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Home blog In the News Orange County Juvenile Corrections Officer Accused of Making Boys Wear Urine-Soaked Shoes

Orange County Juvenile Corrections Officer Accused of Making Boys Wear Urine-Soaked Shoes

By Michael Guisti on February 13, 2015

Orange, CA — One of the most important principles of our justice system is the Eighth Amendment’s ban of “cruel and unusual punishment.” While we may agree that people who have been convicted of a crime must face some kind of consequence, it’s important to remember that in our zeal for justice that we do not inflict punishment in a manner that is degrading or arbitrary.

On Wednesday, a former Orange County juvenile corrections officer was charged with three counts of misdemeanor child abuse, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Tamie Marie Bieker, 38, allegedly forced boys in the Juvenile Hall in Orange to wear shoes that had been rubbed in their own urine on three separate incidents in the summer of last year.

In each incident the boys had urinated in their rooms, and it is said that in at least two of them, Bieker had refused their requests to be allowed to go to the restroom. Bieker then allegedly took the boys’ shoes, rubbed them in the urine and forced them to put the shoes back on.

The boys involved in the incidents were 13, 14, and 17 and later reported Bieker to Juvenile Hall staff. After the accusations were investigated, the matter was handed over to the DA’s office. Bieker was fired in December and could be sentenced to up to three years in prison if she is convicted.

People generally think of child abuse as primarily violent or sexual in nature, but the truth is that child abuse charges can cover a wide range of negligent or otherwise cruel behaviors. Most of us would agree that people who act maliciously towards children deserve to be punished, but it is also important to remember that everyone has the right to fight the accusations against them in criminal court.

At the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti, we stand up for people who have been accused of all kinds of crimes. That’s what a criminal defense attorney’s job is. We make sure that our clients’ rights are protected during on the most difficult times of their life.

For over 16 years, our Orange County defense lawyers have successfully defended clients against charges like theft, fraud, sexual assault, domestic violence, and murder. We know the best strategies for having criminal charges reduced or dismissed in state and federal courts.

Over the years, we’ve come to be one of the region’s top criminal defense firms, and last year our founder was named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers. We never give up on our clients and we aren’t afraid to take on high-profile cases that have drawn media attention.

Everything about our firm is geared towards helping our clients. We have offices in Santa Ana, Irvine, Garden Grove, and Newport Beach and are happy to offer our clients foreign language assistance in Spanish, Chinese, and other languages. If you have any questions or concerns about your case, our staff of skilled legal professionals is available to help you 24/7.

So if you’ve been charged with a crime in Southern California, call the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti at (714) 707-2797 for a free consultation.

Sources:

Fausto, Alma. “Juvenile corrections officer in Orange accused of rubbing kids’ shoes in urine.” http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bieker-650912-three-urine.html. Orange County Register. 11 February 2015.

Serna, Joseph. “Former Juvenile Hall officer accused of soaking boys’ shoes in urine.” http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-juvenile-corrections-officer-charges-20150211-story.html. Los Angeles Times. 11 February 2015.

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