Victims need unrestricted access to as many services as possible.

This is especially true in states like South Carolina, who have not implemented Marsy’s Law. 

My abuser’s attorney was also the staff attorney for the South Carolina Coalition against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA); while representing him in the family law case. Additionally, documents show that my abuser’s criminal attorney was “of-counsel” in this same attorney’s private firm.

While at SCCADVASA, this attorney obtained victim information about me from the Battered Women’s Justice Project. I was told she never disclosed that she was my abuser’s attorney. 

When I notified SCCADVASA, I was told NOT to contact them, and they denied me services. SCCADVASA was the parent organization to approximately 22 other domestic violence organizations in South Carolina and received federal funding. 

The domestic violence injury I suffered was brutal. I had multiple surgeries and it maimed me. My three children and I, two of whom are special needs and medically fragile, fled South Carolina for safety.

My abuser’s name is Bernard Lee Tyler, Jr. His admission to the abuse/assault is well-documented. 

Kharimah Dessow aka Kharimah Roacher aka Kharimah Waklatsi represented Bernard Tyler, Jr. She has never represented me or my children. Per documents, my abuser’s first criminal attorney was “of-counsel” in her private firm. 

For legal reasons, the rest of the information is alleged:

I suffered increased intimidation and witness tampering after reporting SCCADVASA and the attorney. Laws were broken; rights were violated; various forms of fraud and forgery occurred.

It is my understanding that my abuser’s legal team tried to “shop around” my 911 call. My concern in contacting the police that night was that the sirens and blue lights would overstimulate my special needs children, and wake my son who witnessed the incident. I also did not know if my abuser was still in the home or the yard. 

I submitted video surveillance and evidence of theft of my IRS stimulus check and other checks to law enforcement in South Carolina. My abuser’s name was not on the checks. One of the checks was sent to a Box his name was not on either. He took and opened them without my knowledge that he had them or my consent. They never arrested him.   

The attorney even attempted to get an injunction against me for herself, through the family law case. This is not right and was an attempt to silence me. 

1. Is it also a conflict of interest to represent an abuser at a hearing to extend a protection order while simultaneously being employed for a domestic violence agency that receives federal funding? Richland County Family Court Case: 2019-DR-40-1623. I am unsure why the public access portal no longer shows this information, but the transcripts and courts can verify. Kharimah Dessow represented Bernard Tyler, Jr in 2020. Why is it hidden? I also have evidence to show this to be true. 

2. Competency: Is it a concern for an attorney of a domestic violence agency to not be able to identify continual, abusive behaviors and intimidation; towards a victim, from their own client? What about a prosecutor of domestic violence crimes?

3. Ethics: Is this a question of ethics if an attorney obtains and continues in a role that is a conflict of interest?

4. Duty to Warn: Do attorneys have a duty to warn of danger? As I was fleeing from SC, my abuser removed the locks to the marital home (witness statement captured in police body camera footage). This violated a protection order and my abuser’s bond conditions. SC did not arrest him. This same attorney filed a petition with the family court in January 2020, stating that I left the home unsecured.

5. Can an attorney lie about a delayed necessary medical/dental provision that results in great harm to a special needs and medically fragile child? Can they lie in writing to another officer of the court about it? What are the steps to take if child advocacy and child support enforcement won’t take action? It is my understanding that this attorney used to work for the SC agency that controls child support enforcement and child neglect investigations. My abuser owes support arrears in excess of $50,000.

The record shows this attorney represented my abuser from 2019 to approximately Spring 2022. Richland County Family Court South Carolina: 2019-DR-40-2125.

In early January 2022, I received an email stating this attorney replaced the Domestic Violence Prosecutor, in Richland County South Carolina Solicitor’s Office. The same Solicitor’s Office had been prosecuting my abuser since 2019. Suddenly, a trial was scheduled for January 25, 2022, and I was not notified. Can an attorney prosecute their own client? I believe the intent was to have a trial without my knowledge and move for the case to be dismissed in my absence. After self advocacy, the attempt was unsuccessful.

I also received emails from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and a victim advocate stating (paraphrasing) that their office also had a conflict of interest due to my abuser’s divorce attorney. I believe the Attorney General’s office has a Federally Funded VAWA program.

Lexington County Solicitor’s Office took over the case. They offered my abuser Counseling through Pretrial Intervention, despite that action violating SC law. My abuser used the privilege of Pre-Trial Intervention in the 1980s, which makes him ineligible to use it now. He is also ineligible because due to other aspects of the crime. Counseling with this the extent of my injuries and a minor witnessing the crime? After self advocacy and filing federal complaints, Lexington County, SC Solicitor’s office rescinded their offer. The criminal case is in pending status again.

Considering the multiple conflicts of interest and the inability to obtain victim and child advocacy, shouldn’t both the family law case and criminal case be tried outside of the state of South Carolina?

I believe anyone can understand why my children and I need free victim advocacy and why this law is needed.  

Every illegal, corrupt, and unethical thing that was done simply welcomed divine retribution and absolute justice to those involved. 

If any of you experience intimidation or retaliation for signing this petition, please let me know. 

Stand with me. Help me make this law a reality.

I have provided support and tips for victims in the “Update Section.”