Annulment filed in cop-victim marriage

Keith Paul

Monday, May 20, 2002 | 10:18 a.m.

A detective who married a woman while he was investigating her sexual assault accusations against a former North Las Vegas councilman has filed for an annulment.

North Las Vegas Police Detective Robert B. Tanner, 55, married the 31-year-old woman April 14 after first meeting her about a month earlier while talking to her about the case.

Tanner filled out an annulment request just days after prosecutors decided April 29 not to pursue the case against former Councilman John Rhodes, saying the woman, who had a prior relationship with Rhodes, had an "apparent motive to fabricate" the charges.

Tanner, who could not be reached for comment, signed and had the annulment request notarized on May 3.

However, Tanner didn't file the annulment request in Family Court until May 13. He wrote in the request that "she was extremely vulnerable and under duress because of a recent sexual assault and battery and was not able to make a reasonable decision," according to court records.

No court date has been set for a hearing on the annulment.

Tanner was put on administrative leave with pay April 25 after he told the police chief and his supervisors that he married the woman. Tanner, an officer for more than 31 years, was returned to duty but took vacation.

He was scheduled to return to work today and will be assigned to burglary cases instead of sexual assault cases, said Lt. Art Redcay, department spokesman and head of the criminal investigations unit.

Tanner still faces an ongoing internal affairs investigation into his actions.

Redcay admitted there is no policy against having a relationship with a witness or victim in a case under investigation, but said there shouldn't have to be one.

"Ethically and professionally it is something we do not condone," he said.

Ronald Bloxham, a chief deputy Clark County district attorney, wrote in a memo that Tanner's marriage to the woman had "very little bearing" on the decision not to prosecute and had he not become involved with the woman "our decision would be the same."

But Bloxham added "the fact that the investigating detective ... became personally involved with the victim could have had serious consequences had the facts (of the case) been more compelling."

Rhodes, who lost a re-election bid in June 2001, has repeatedly denied the assault allegations through an attorney.

The woman made a report to police on March 11 saying she was assaulted by Rhodes the previous day. Bloxham pointed out several problems with the case -- including that after the woman left Rhodes' home on March 10, she returned after he called her.

The woman also had consensual sex with Rhodes on March 8. She had also told Rhodes she wanted to marry him and she was disappointed when Rhodes promised to marry her but never did, Bloxham wrote.

"It's clear that the victim delayed the reporting of the alleged assault for a period of time, and then reported the assault after talking to a civil attorney," according to the memo.