She Says Male Deputy Watched Her Examination : Wisely’s Wife Alleges Strip-Searching

The wife of convicted killer Willie Wisely said Friday that she was forced to undergo a strip-search at the Orange County Jail on Thursday night in front of a male deputy before visiting her husband. Undersheriff Raul A. Ramos called her accusation “a bunch of bunk.”

Gail Harrington, who faces criminal charges of passing drugs to an inmate during an earlier jail visit, said she will appear in court Tuesday to complain about the search.

Ramos could barely control his anger when asked about her allegations.

“She is just telling bald-faced lies,” Ramos said. “Ordering a search like that in front of a male deputy goes against everything this office stands for. I can’t believe it happened. But if it did happen, that male officer would never again be working for us or any other police department.”

Harrington named the officer she said was present in a press release, but he could not be reached for comment.

The county counsel’s office is seeking a court order that would limit Harrington’s access to inmates at the jail. Because she is a law clerk, she has visited the jail several times a week during the last year.

Wisely, who has been held in County Jail for six years--longer than any other inmate--was convicted in 1982 of killing his stepfather. He is seeking a new trial. A hearing on that motion and other issues related to Wisely and Harrington is scheduled for Oct. 12.

Harrington said in a press release issued Friday that during the strip-search, her breasts were exposed and her dress was lifted above her waist.

Ramos said he was unaware of her accusation until told about it by a reporter. But he said he did not believe it for a minute. A watch commander at the jail contacted Friday night said he was surprised to hear about the accusation.

“If something like that occurred around here, it’s news to me,” the officer said.