Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Tarver sentenced to 14 months in prison
COLFAX — A former social worker in Colfax has been sentenced to prison for coercing a woman into sexual acts in exchange for helping her regain custody of her children.
In April, Robert Tarver, 35, was found guilty during his bench trial in Whitman County Superior Court.
Judge George Fearing convicted him of felony receiving unlawful compensation with sexual motivation and perjury, but acquitted him of felony extortion.
On Tuesday, July 9, Judge Fearing sentenced Tarver to 14 months in prison and three years of parole.
Tarver is also required to register as a sex offender for ten years.
According to court documents, Tarver, who worked for the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in Colfax, extorted the woman in 2020. He was fired in January 2021. The Colfax Police Department conducted the investigation.
Judge Fearing took over the case after Whitman County Superior Court Judge Gary Libey recused himself due to his involvement in local child protective service cases, which often include social workers. Judge Fearing is a state appellate court judge based in Spokane.
In a previous article published by the Whitman County Gazette on June 15, 2023, Tarver was charged with receiving unlawful compensation, extortion in the second degree, and perjury in the first and pleaded not guilty on June 9, 2023. He was placed on pretrial release without bond.
Colfax Police Officer Perry Tate led the investigation, uncovering that Tarver coerced the victim into various sexual acts, reports say.
Court documents show that Tarver oversaw a case involving a woman whose children he had taken. According to the probable cause statement, the woman believed she had to comply with Tarver’s demands to regain her children.
The alleged extortion occurred on July 9, 2020, starting with a meeting between the woman and Tarver at the CPS offices in Colfax, according to court documents. However, the charge was later thrown out in court.
Tarver later drove the woman to the courthouse and offered to go to her house to ensure her safety as a restraining order was served to her former boyfriend.
During this visit, Tarver reportedly unloaded and dry-fired the woman’s pistol, discussed her case, and began making inappropriate comments and advances, reports say.
Court documents state that Tarver pressured the woman into sexual acts, while reminding her of the potential trouble he could face.
Despite her reported discomfort and attempts to end the encounter, she did not explicitly say “no” or push him away.
Afterward, Tarver promised her visitation with her children and arranged for legal representation, according to court documents.
The woman provided evidence to the Colfax Police Department on July 14, 2020, including DNA evidence from her home and personal items.
Reports say that officer Tate corroborated her story with security footage, cell phone records and physical evidence.
The Washington State Crime Laboratory confirmed the presence of male DNA on the woman’s pistol, cigarettes and robe.
Tarver’s discrepancies in his court testimony led to his termination from DCYF, where he had been employed since June 1, 2017.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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