PLEASANT GROVE, Utah – A Utah teacher was arrested Wednesday after being accused of raping an 8th-grade student while she was attending Pleasant Grove Junior High.
According to court documents, Keaton Jason Tanner, 29, is facing one count of rape of a child and two counts of tampering with a witness after the victim’s friend contacted authorities with information.
The friend told officials that she knew the victim was having sexual relations with her boyfriend while they were in 8th grade, but didn’t know who the boyfriend was until they were doing a TikTok trend called “We listen and we don’t judge.”
It was during that game that the victim allegedly told her friend that her 8th-grade boyfriend was “Mr. Tanner.” According to the friend, the relationship ended after Tanner allegedly raped the victim. The victim would have been 12 or 13 years old at the time.
Alpine School District said the teacher has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest and the district is taking all available steps to cooperate with law enforcement.
“The welfare of our students is non-negotiable. All district employees undergo a criminal background check prior to beginning employment. When we learn of employee conduct that may violate the trust patrons have placed in us, we take appropriate action to protect students,” the statement reads.
Earlier this month, the two friends confronted Tanner at his residence where they told an unknown female about the alleged former relationship before driving back to Pleasant Grove. While parked outside of the Pleasant Grove residence, Tanner allegedly knocked on the car window and climbed into the back seat.
Documents say the victim’s friend recorded the conversation that ensued, during which officers said they could hear Tanner saying to “tell ‘her’ they just made out or something and didn’t have sex.” The victim said Tanner then offered to give her money, but the girls did not take it.
“In the video you can hear the complainant telling Keaton he needs to learn that ‘little girls’ should not be attractive to him to which Keaton replies ‘I have’ and that he ‘hasn’t done anything with anyone else’,” documents read.
Documents say the victim and her friend told Tanner to leave the vehicle and that was the end of the interaction.
Police later interviewed Tanner who reportedly said he knew the student because she would come into his classroom, saying, “I think she liked me.” He said the student later moved into his same apartment complex with her mom and he would see her around the complex at times. He said he did not know the last time he spoke to her.
The junior high administration told authorities Tanner had requested a sabbatical a week and a half ago, stating he would like to go to Germany to pursue a Master’s Degree. Documents say he served a religious mission there and visits the country often.
“It is feared he is trying to flee the country as he asked for the sabbatical shortly after being confronted by the victim and complainant,” documents read.
Tanner was booked into the Utah County Jail on Feb. 26.
