Cedar Rapids man convicted of sexually abusing 15-year-old girl

CEDAR RAPIDS — A 27-year-old Cedar Rapids man was convicted Monday of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl in separate incidents in 2020 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Tanner Michael Rogers pleaded to two counts of third-degree sexual abuse. During the plea hearing, he admitted to sex acts with a 15-year-old girl against her will on Dec. 8 and between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1, 2020.

According to a complaint, a witness told police Rogers sexually assaulted the 15-year-old girl in the dining room of a house in Cedar Rapids. Rogers left the residence after the witness confronted him.

During a forensic interview at Unity-Point St. Luke’s Child Protection Center, the teen described the sexual abuse and also an earlier incident in the same house that was interrupted when a witness came to the house, the complaint stated.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever also revoked Rogers’ probation and deferred judgment in a separate case of assault causing bodily injury (domestic abuse — strangulation).

Rogers declined to make a statement during his sentencing on the convictions.

McKeever, in accordance with a plea agreement, sentenced Rogers to two 10-year sentences and one year in the separate domestic case but ran all the sentences concurrently for a total of 10 years in prison.

Rogers must also comply with sex offender registration requirements and a special sentence of parole for life.

McKeever also placed a five-year no-contact order to protect the victim.

The two remaining charges in the sex abuse case of distributing a controlled substance (marijuana) to a minor were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Rogers has previous convictions of domestic abuse and possession of marijuana.

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