An 18-year-old Nash, Texas, man is accused of sexual misconduct with four different 13 and 14-year-old girls in indictments issued this week by a Bowie County grand jury.
Gary Tanner Royal, who is referred to as Tanner by his alleged victims, is facing 10 felony charges listed in four indictments. The four girls all reported they were in the eighth grade and that Royal was a high school senior when the alleged assaults occurred.
In all, Royal has been charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and five counts of sexual assault of a child. According to a probable cause affidavit concerning the alleged abuse of a 13-year-old girl, a coach at a Bowie County middle school alerted the girl’s mother after seeing bruising on her legs.
The girl’s mother took her to a doctor who also expressed concern that the girl may have been the victim of a sexual assault. The girl was interviewed in June and July at the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center. She reported to a forensic interviewer that she was at a baseball game with a friend who knew Royal. She said she and her friend got in Royal’s truck with him to talk and Royal stated he needed to go to his house.
The alleged victim said her friend insisted they go and that once there, Royal “starts trying to mess with me.” Royal allegedly grabbed the girl by the wrist and pulled her into a back bedroom where he forcibly sexually assaulted her. Royal allegedly held the girls hands with one of his hands while forcing her legs apart. The alleged victim described “huge purple and black bruises” on the inside and backs of her legs appearing in the days following.
The three other alleged victims, all 14, also described being assaulted in Royal’s home. One of the girls reported that Royal hid her so that a family member would not know she was in the residence. Another girl claims she told Royal “No,” but “gave in” when he persisted. One of the alleged victims reported that Royal sent her a text message while she was being interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center “telling her to lie during the interview.”
Each of the five counts of sexual assault of a child pending against Royal is punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Each of the five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison.
Royal is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail totaling $300,000. He is scheduled to appear later this month before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart.
