Alleged child abuser's bond reduced

By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 2:17 PM MST

Tammy Renea Andrews, 39, appeared in the Graham County Superior Court on Monday for her arraignment and had her bond reduced from $100,000 to $50,000.

Andrews was booked into the Graham County Jail on Feb. 24 on numerous charges relating to child abuse. She is charged with a total of 16 counts, including four counts of aggravated assault – class-two felonies, aggravated assault – a class-four felony, three counts of aggravated assault – class-six felonies, two counts of kidnapping – class-two felonies, three counts of child abuse – class-two felonies and three counts of child abuse – class-four felonies.

The charges stem from allegations Andrews repeatedly abused her adopted 10-year-old son. Some of the allegations include the victim’s being tied up with string and/or chains after Andrews' other children left for school, refusal to feed the child if he urinated or defecated while tied up, and repeated physical abuse such as being hit with a baseball bat and a hammer.

When the victim was examined, a BB was discovered lodged in his abdomen from when Andrews had allegedly shot him. He said he bled from the wound, but Andrews would not take him to receive medical attention.

At her arraignment Monday, Andrews' attorney, Barry Standifird of Payson, requested she be released on her own recognizance.

Gila County Superior Court Judge Robert Duber II was previously given the case due to a conflict with Graham County Superior Court Judge R. Douglas Holt.

Judge Duber asked Standifird how much money his client could afford to post for a bond.

After conferring with Andrews' family, Standifird said they could come up with $5,000 and asked for a $5,000 cash bond if the judge would not release her on her own recognizance.

He added that her brother, Graham County probation officer Herman Andrews, said he would check up on her frequently as she lives in a house he owns near the residence where he lives.

Deputy County Attorney C. Allan Perkins voiced his opinion against lowering the bond and said the victim still lives in fear of her and has nightmares. He added that Andrews would have a strong reason to not return for subsequent hearings because she is facing a possible sentence considerably longer than her life expectancy if she is convicted on all counts.

Judge Duber granted Standifird's motion to reconsider and lowered Andrews' bond to $50,000. That means she or her family would either have to pay $50,000 for her release or go through a bondsman, who generally charges 10 percent of the bond and puts up the money for the full amount after receiving collateral.

Duber also required Andrews be fit with an electric ankle monitor if she posts bond and will not allow her to go farther than 10 miles from her residence. She was also ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Judge Duber set Andrews' next court appearance to be a pretrial conference June 28 at 1:15 p.m.