Lawsuit: Kern County Department of Human Services, Bakersfield Police Department and Panama-Buena Vista Union School District UPDATED

“In August 2020, the young girl was present when her father stabbed her grandmother to death.

With dad serving a life sentence for murder, the child entered the foster system and was placed with two people. She was then subjected to horrific abuse, receiving a litany of injuries including a broken rib, retinal detachment, burn scarring, “significant bruising” on many areas of her body and malnourishment resulting in hair loss and protruding bones, according to a claim filed last week.

Kern County Department of Human Services, Bakersfield Police Department and Panama-Buena Vista Union School District are among the entities named in the claim — a precursor to a lawsuit — filed by attorney Daniel Rodriguez.

During the year the child lived with the foster parents, authorities failed to check on her physical and emotional well-being and otherwise didn’t perform their duties, according to the claim. It alleges the girl was placed with the couple despite one of them — Tameca Cargile — having a criminal record.

The Department of Human Services and BPD “should have known that the Cargiles were dangerous, violent, aggressive, threatening, menacing and/or likely to commit a violent act on (the child),” the claim says.

Cargile faces trial next month on a felony child cruelty charge.

The abuse was discovered on Aug. 25, 2021, when the child, 6 at the time, went to a teacher’s aide at Panama-Buena Vista Union School District with a cut lip, according to the claim. Police were contacted and an investigation began.”
Claim filed over foster child’s numerous injuries
[KGET 7/21/23 by Jason Kotowski]

As search of the Kern County case records shows that her trial will begin on 2/5/24.

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“A woman has pleaded no contest to a charge of felony child cruelty in connection with injuries suffered by a foster child in her care, according to court records.

Tameca Cargile will be sentenced to four years’ felony probation and 400 hours of community service, plus ordered to attend parenting classes, at her sentencing hearing next month, prosecutors said.

The abuse was discovered on Aug. 25, 2021, when the child, 6 at the time, went to a teacher’s aide at Panama-Buena Vista Union School District with a cut lip, according to a report. Police were contacted and an investigation began.

It’s alleged the child suffered a broken rib, retinal detachment, burn scarring, bruising on many areas of her body and malnourishment resulting in hair loss and protruding bones, according to a lawsuit filed in the case.”

Woman pleads no contest to abusing foster child
[KGET 3/19/25 by Jason Kotowski]