It’s a secret John Tanner has been hiding for almost ten years now....
Case Number 98-85CA, in the 7th judicial circuit for the county of Flagler
Lisa Faye Lake (Petitioner)
James Darrel Lake (Defendant)
In August 1997, James Darrel Lake, a member of State Attorney John Tanner’s Church came to him and confessed that he had been molesting his stepdaughter for years.
Taken from the autobiography of James Darrel Lake, entered into police evidence after James committed suicide, page 36.
"I stayed after Sunday School and broke down and confessed to John Tanner the horrible thing I had done. I was hoping, that his wife, Marcia, would be able to talk with Lisa, and be able to help them.
I didn’t know what was going to happen when I came forward with this, but Mr. Tanner could see that I was contrite, and Marcia worked with abuse in families and I thought that between these two mighty Christians, that my family could get help.
John agreed that this needed to stay between us, and that he would counsel me, and approach Marcia, about Lisa, and (minor’s name omitted). But when we next talked, there were complications, legal complications, it seems that, he was unable to directly say anything to Marcia, because of her position, she would have to notify on it, and a conflict of interest could ensue. He agreed to be available for me, but without involving the legal system"
Three months after John Tanner did nothing, James kidnapped his children and ran off to California. Once James was tracked down and his kids were taken away, he returned to Florida for a divorce/custody hearing, while there John Tanner’s pastor and James called John Tanner,
Taken from the autobiography of James Darrel Lake, entered into police evidence after James committed suicide, page 40
"The next morning on the 25th, I went over to Pastor David’s and he got on the phone with John Tanner. John Tanner told him that he couldn’t talk to me personally now, because if he was going to be able to assist me, he couldn’t create a conflict of interest, in case Lisa & Faye were going to file charges. But he did advise me, not to say anything in court."
On October 28, 1998, more than a year after James confessed to John Tanner, the mother, Lisa Lake, went to the Flagler Beach police department and reported the child molestation, it is case number 98- 3428, and is public record.
The case was assigned to officer LL Williams, who during the investigation got permission from John Tanner’s office to record a phone conversation between Lisa and James Darrel Lake, in which he admitted to molesting his step daughter for years. Documents show this was signed on November 14th 1998,
Once the case was given to John Tanner’s office to prosecute James Darrel Lake, John Tanner not only did not cite a conflict of interest HE DIDN’T PROSECUTE THE CHILD MOLESTER.