Domestic violence victim gets jail for lying about beating

BARSTOW • In a rare occurrence, a domestic violence victim is facing jail time for perjury for covering up a beating.

Deborah Harper, 43, of Barstow, was the victim in a domestic violence case that ended Wednesday with the conviction of her boyfriend William Wade, 62, of Barstow in a jury trial.

A tape of an interview with the victim after she was threatened by her live-in boyfriend provided key evidence to charge her with perjury for lying about a brutal tire-iron beating she denied in an earlier trial.

Police were called to Harper and Wade’s home on May 29 and found Harper suffering numerous injuries from a brutal beating with a tire iron. At Wade’s trial, Harper denied Wade beat her, recanting what she told police about being beaten by Wade, said Deputy District Attorney Brieann Durose. Wade was subsequently acquitted by a jury.

In September, Wade was threatening Harper with injury at their home while Harper was on the phone with her son, said Durose. The line was disconnected, and Harper’s son feared for his mother’s safety. Police were called and entered the house after hearing a heated argument that they feared may turn violent.

An audio recorder — used by many in law enforcement — on the responding officer’s belt was activated, which captured an interview with Harper. In that interview, Harper said Wade had beaten her on a previous occasion with a tire iron.

In a rare move, perjury charges were filed against Harper for lying about the tire iron beating on the stand in the first trial, and Harper was arrested one week after Wade was taken into custody.  Harper and Wade were co-defendants at their trial. Harper pleaded no contest to the charges and was subsequently sentenced to 365 days in jail. Wade was found guilty of threatening a crime and dissuading a witness by a jury on Wednesday and is scheduled for sentencing on March 16.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Daugherty, who issued the perjury case, said victims of domestic violence lying to protect those who beat them is sad, but truthful testimony is essential to justice.

“There is no excuse for violence,” said Daugherty. “Situations where people recant or minimize are on a human level understandable. But we rely on evidence for truthful testimony. Victims of domestic abuse lie, we anticipate it, but we want to put on truthful evidence.”

Durose called Harper’s case unusual, and said the audio recording provided sufficient evidence for Harper to be charged.

Harper’s court-appointed attorney, Daniel Mangan, could not be reached by phone on Friday afternoon.

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(760) 256-4126 or adome@desertdispatch.com