Former Jasper fireman/child molester's wife pleads guilty to felony charge

A Jasper woman who conspired with her child molesting husband to keep a witness from testifying pleaded guilty Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court to felony attempting to tamper with a witness.

Judge Dean Dankelson ordered a presentence investigation for Audrey Tanner, 31.

According to the probable cause statement, Taffner was visiting her husband, former Jasper Fire Protection District chief engineer Jerred Taffner, 30, in the Jasper County Jail, where J. Taffner was 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.

Taffner pleaded guilty April 29 to one count of child molestation and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Under a plea agreement, a second count of child molestation and two counts of statutory sodomy were dismissed.