Jasper woman charged with felony tampering with a witness in child molestation case bound over for trial

A Jasper woman charged with felony tampering with a witness was bound over for trial after waiving her preliminary hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court Wednesday.

According to the probable cause statement, Audrey Taffner, 31, was visiting her husband former Jasper Fire Protection District chief engineer Jerred Taffner, 30, in the Jasper County Jail, where J. Taffner is awaiting trial on child molestation charges.

Jerred and Audrey discussed different ways which may prohibit juvenile (name withheld) from testifying in court regarding the sexual abuse. These conversations were recorded due to Jerred being incarcerated at the time.

The next hearing for Audrey Taffner is scheduled for 9 a.m. February 11. Jerred Taffner's next hearing is scheduled at the same time.

Jerred Taffner's alleged crimes took place in January 2017 and March 2018.



An underage girl described the alleged molestation to an interviewer at the Children's Center, according to the probable cause statement, saying Taffner used his mouth and fingers on her, put her on the bed, "laid on top of her for about 25 seconds and was moving a lot."

The child described four incidents.

After the police read Taffner his rights, according to the probable cause statement, he admitted that officers might find evidence indicating he had been on the girl's bed.




Jerred Taffner is being held in the Jasper County Jail without bond.

is being held in the Jasper County Jail without bond.