The probation of a former Jones County band director was revoked to serve 227 days in the Jones County jail following outings at two Atlanta venues that attract juveniles.
Robert Corey Tanner was in Jones County Superior Court June 20 to stipulate to the probation violations. He was arrested for the violations Oct. 24, 2023, and had remained in custody until his court appearance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore. Tanner was represented by defense attorney Nyonnohweah Seekie.
Although Tanner stipulated to the violations, he did not agree with the resolution proposed by the state, which was an additional 90 days in a probation detention center.
Seekie asked instead for time served. She said Tanner did not realize the venues were restricted under his probation conditions. The attorney said the visits were for the purpose of spending time with a family member.
She told the court her client had no positive drug screenings or technical violations and had worked in the kitchen of the jail. Due to the length of time he had been in jail, and this being his first violation, Seekie felt time served was sufficient.
“He has a family to support,” the attorney added.
Fiore stated that Tanner violated two sex offender conditions by visiting Lego Land and Jurassic World. She said Tanner also admitted to deleting his browser history so law enforcement could not see his previous computer searches.
The prosecutor said attempts to see his phone history was the reason the defendant had remained in jail.
Superior Court Judge Alison Burleson presided over the case. She asked the defense about deleting the browser history.
Seekie said she did not believe the searches involved any minors but agreed the history was deleted.
Fiore said, when the history was restored, it showed search of pornography, but it was adult pornography.
Burleson said she thought the state’s request for 90 days was fair, but the defendant had already served three times that number of days. She sentenced Tanner to the 227 days he had served but also made all his probation conditions special conditions.
The judge explained to Tanner that the special conditions meant that any violation, even a technical violation, could revoke the remainder of his probation to confinement.
“It’s better to ask permission, especially when serving sex offender probation,” she said.
Burleson requested that any future violations by Tanner be brought before her.
Arrest and plea
Tanner entered his guilty plea to two counts of sexual assault in Jones County Superior Court Jan. 7, 2016. He was sentenced to 15 years on each count. The counts were to run concurrently for a total of 15 years with the first three years served in confinement. The remainder of sentence is to be served on probation.
According to information on the Georgia Department of Correction website, Tanner actually served just over a year in prison.
Stephen Bradley was the district attorney at the time and prosecuted the case. He told the court the assault took place while Tanner was a teacher and band director at Jones County High School. He said victim was a student under his supervision and explained that each of the charges of sexual assault was connected to a specific date.
The prosecutor said the facts of the case included the student being 14 years old when the contact began. He said Tanner was approached by school officials to be cautious not to be alone with the student because complaints had been raised.
Bradley said none of the allegations included anything happening on school grounds. He said Tanner had a romantic relationship with the minor and used other students for cover.
The prosecutor said trips were made outside of Jones County, and a fourth incident occurred not included in the charges. He said there was no indication that the defendant harmed the victim or that their behavior was not consensual.
The district attorney said Tanner would be required to adhere to sex offender conditions.
The defendant was represented in the negotiated plea by defense attorney John Phillip Fox.
Tanner was arrested Sept. 10, 2016, following his resignation from his position at the high school.
According to Georgia’s criminal code, the crime of sexual assault deals specifically with persons with supervisory or disciplinary authority such as teachers, and a person convicted of sexual assault shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 25 years or by a fine not to exceed $100,000.
