Cedar Rapids man sentenced for second sexual abuse offense

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man, sentenced last month for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old in September 2019, was sentenced Tuesday on a lesser charge involving a 19-year-old woman who was sexually abused a few months after the first incident.

Tanner W. Hart, 25, originally charged with third-degree sexual abuse, filed a written plea earlier this month to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The victim, in an impact statement read by a victim/witness coordinator with the Linn County Attorney’s Office, said her life had dramatically changed after she met Hart and unknowingly led him to her friend, the woman he sexually assaulted in September 2019. She introduced Hart, who was her roommate, to her friend, but said she didn’t know him well.

Her life became “chaotic” after her friend was sexually assaulted in September and then through Nov. 12, 2019, when Hart also “raped” her, she said in the statement. She became “incredibly numb and internalized everything.” She lost interest in being around others and was diagnosed with anorexia and tried to numb her pain with alcohol. She lost 30 pounds in two months.

The woman said she hit rock bottom in October when she was arrested for drunken driving. The woman said she got sober after that and left Cedar Rapids. When she returned, Hart sexually assaulted her. She repeatedly said no and tried to push him away.

After talking to her aunt, she called the police. They took her to the hospital and a sexual assault forensic evidence kit was collected.

According to criminal complaint, Hart’s DNA was identified when the kit was tested at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation crime lab in Ankeny.

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden asked 6th Judicial District Judge Fae Hoover to run this two-year sentence consecutively to the 10-year sentence in the other sex abuse case, noting they were serious, “violent” and separate offenses, the level of harm caused and need for accountability and long-term rehabilitation for Hart.

“This was a traumatic and life-changing offense that can have lasting emotional and psychological harm to the victim,” Vander Sanden said.

Tyler Johnston, Hart’s lawyer, asked the judge to run the sentences concurrently for a total of 10 years. He argued the two incidents were related because this victim knew the other victim. Johnston also accused the victim in this case of being jealous of her friend being with Hart and still pursued Hart after her friend reported the sexual abuse.

Johnston said the “root” of Hart’s problem was alcoholism, which he claimed also was a problem for the the victim. Hart pleaded to this charge against his advice. He said the prosecution and media would likely call this “victim shaming,” but he wanted the judge to know what happened and what evidence they would have presented at trial.

Hart, during sentencing, said he took responsibility for his actions and had “no excuses” for his behavior. He wants to move forward without alcohol in his life.

Hoover ran the sentences consecutively for a total of 12 years. She also ordered Hart to comply with the sex offender registry requirements and serve a special sentence of parole for life.

Hoover said she ran the sentences consecutively because they were separate offenses with different victims.

The judge also told the women, who were in the courtroom, that she hoped they could move on with their lives and not be “defined as victims.”

“Don’t define yourselves by one day,” Hoover said.

Hoover told Hart that she hoped he would take advantage of treatment and educational opportunities while in prison.

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