SMETHPORT MAN CONVICTED OF RAPE OF A CHILD AND OTHER SEX CRIMES
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, after a two day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Robert Allen Tanner was convicted of sex crimes against a juvenile boy.
The case initiated in February, 2023, when the juvenile boy reported to a school aid that TANNER, with whom he is related, committed various sex acts on him. The aid reported this to Childline prompting a CYS caseworker to meet with the child at the school. Throughout the two day trial, the school aid, CYS caseworker, forensic interviewer, family advocate and an expert on child abuse disclosure testified before the jury.
The minor child also testified and told the jury that, when he was left in TANNER’S care when he was 8 or 9 years old, TANNER would perform oral sex on him, touch the child’s penis with his hand and TANNER’S own penis, and put the child’s penis on his butt. The child was unable to describe the number of times this occurred but related that it occurred more than once. Trooper Eric Thompson, formerly in the crime unit at the Pennsylvania State Police – Lewis Run barracks, interviewed TANNER and investigated the case. TANNER also testified.