The following contains graphic details of sexual assault.
Tanner John Miller, 25, of Friday Harbor has been charged with rape in the second degree — incapable of consent; rape in the third degree — no consent; and possessing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the first degree. All are felonies.
During his preliminary appearance on Aug. 31, Miller pleaded not guilty. He is being represented by San Juan County Public Defender Alex Frix. Judge Kathryn Loring set Miller’s bail at $100,000; issued a sexual assault protection order prohibiting contact with the victim; and ordered the defendant to surrender all firearms. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 9 a.m.
In early August, a teenage girl reported to juvenile court services that Miller allegedly gave her alcohol and had sex with her while she was unable to give consent on multiple occasions between February and May 2023.
The victim told Detective Rodney Nawn that the first occurrence was in late February when Miller “showed up” at a party on San Juan Island where there were underage girls and boys. The victim stated she had been drinking heavily and was unable to stop Miller, who appeared “dead sober,” when he began having sex with her. Another girl put a pillow over the victim’s face when she started speaking during the alleged assault.
According to the victim’s statement, the next day Miller invited a group of underage girls to his residence, where he gave them alcohol. The victim alleges he had nonconsensual sex with her and another girl.
In early March, Miller invited the victim and other underage girls to Orcas Island for a long weekend, during which time he allegedly supplied alcohol to them and had sex with the victim while she was “blackout drunk.” She reported another incident on San Juan Island where she got alcohol poisoning, stayed at Miller’s home and woke up to him raping her. The victim says the last incident was in May when the two had sex that was initially consensual but then became non-consensual.
In mid-August, Nawn was granted a consent order to record a phone call between Miller and the victim. In the recording, she asked Miller about explicit photos and videos of her that he had on his phone. He stated they had been deleted. The victim also asked about their previous sexual encounters, stating she “does not want this to happen to other girls.” Miller said, “The underage thing has been an issue for me” and assured the victim she was “going to be the last.”
Detective Nawn obtained a search warrant for Miller’s phone. He found an explicit video of the victim in Miller’s Snapchat account. On Aug. 30, detectives and deputies served a search warrant on Miller’s home and arrested him.
The defendant’s previous convictions in San Juan County include indecent exposure and two counts of assault in the fourth degree.
For resources on identifying potential signs of sexual assault visit https://www.rainn.org/warning-signs. Locally, SAFE San Juans (SAFE) is a non-profit agency serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse/assault. All of SAFE’s services are confidential, free, and available to anyone who needs them. To talk with someone from SAFE San Juans, call 360-378-8680 or visit www.safesj.org. SAFE’s 24/7 crisis line is always staffed and can be reached at 360-378-2345. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
