Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
COLFAX — A 34-year-old former social worker in Colfax is accused of extorting a woman for sex in exchange for helping her get her children back.
Robert Tarver has been charged with Receiving Unlawful Compensation, Extortion in the Second Degree, and Perjury in the First Degree.
Tarver pleaded not guilty to the Whitman County Superior Court charges on the morning of Friday, June 9. Court Commissioner Doug Robinson placed Tarver on pretrial release without bond at the recommendation of the prosecutor’s office.
Colfax Police Officer Perry Tate assisted in leading a department investigation that reportedly found that Tarver coerced the victim into sexual contact of various kinds.
Tarver worked for the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) as a Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworker and had been overseeing a case involving a woman he had taken children from.
The Probable Cause Statement reports that the woman believed she had to do as Tarver requested if she wanted to get her kids back. The alleged extortion occurred on the night of Thursday, July 9, 2020.
That morning she started with a meeting between the woman and Tarver at the CPS offices located in Colfax to discuss the signing of a restraining order in her case.
Tarver later offered to drive the woman to the courthouse to ensure her paperwork went through correctly. Following this event, Tarver offered to go to the woman’s house to ensure her safety as the restraining order was served to her former boyfriend.
Tarver reportedly received a call and later told the woman that he could be in a lot of trouble for being with her.
He asked to see the woman’s pistol she often carries. Reports say that Tarver unloaded and dry-fired the pistol while telling the woman about the firearm training classes he teaches. Tarver continued to tell the woman he believed she was a good person but chose men poorly. He told her how well he knew her based on his investigation of her case.
As the woman began to cry, Tarver started diagnosing her mental illnesses before asking if she had ever slept around or experienced other men outside her marriage.
The woman stated to the Colfax Police that Tarver began to make her uncomfortable with the questions and statements he made about her body.
Court documents state that the woman was upset to the point of physically shaking as Tarver began to touch her.
Tarver asked the woman if she would consider going into the house, locking the door, and being with him so no one would know. The woman reportedly told Tarver she never thought of him that way.
Tarver continued telling the woman she needed to calm down as he placed his hands on her. Court documents state that Tarver told the woman that she had to kiss him on the mouth whenever they talked about her case. This was before Tarver began to push the woman’s head down to his groin area and remove his own clothing.
Although the woman never told Tarver “no” or pushed him away, she mentioned numerous occasions where she tried to get out of the encounter and get Tarver to leave her residence.
Following the sexual acts of the night, Tarver reminded the woman that he could get into a lot of trouble. Telling her the encounter never happened.
Reports say that Tarver told the woman he would get her visitation with her children and arranged for her to have the best or scariest lawyer.
Tarver left the woman’s residence, and on the following day, Friday, July 10, 2020, Tarver scheduled visitation with the woman and her children. Text messages from Tarver showed that he would allow a two-hour supervised visitation between the woman and her children.
The woman arrived on time, but Tarver informed her she was only allowed a 55-minute visitation. When the visit was done, she was told to text Tarver from her car.
Soon after, the woman provided evidence to the Colfax Police Department after filing her statement with a lawyer on July 14, 2020.
Colfax Police Officer Perry Tate collected a couch cushion from the living room’s right west side of the couch. The woman provided a shirt and bathrobe that she had worn during or after the indecent. She also provided a kitchen garbage can with DNA evidence and an ashtray where Tarver put his cigarette butts.
Officer Tate identified and matched the receipt records tied to Tarver, video camera security footage of Tarver, and confirmed cell phone records that matched the woman’s story.
A report came back from the Washington State Crime Laboratory regarding the evidence submitted. Results and conclusions stated that human DNA, including male DNA, was detected on the pistol. Male DNA was also identified on the Misty brand cigarettes and the sample from the robe.
The amount of DNA was suitable for autosomal DNA analysis. One friction ridge impression (fingerprint) was developed and submitted as evidence.
Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) cited discrepancies between investigation interviews and testimonies under oath and that Tarver admitted his court testimony was inaccurate. He was terminated as an employee after serving as a DCYF Social Services Specialist 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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