Russell County School Resource Officer arrested and charged

PHENIX CITY, Ala. — A former Russell County Sheriff’s deputy and middle school resource officer was arrested and charged with multiple felonies following allegations that he engaged in sexual encounters with a student, authorities said.

Joseph Wayne Cooner III, 30, faces four Class B felony counts under Alabama law for a school employee engaging in a sexual act with a student under the age of 19, according to the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators stated that evidence points to four separate encounters over the preceding month.

“I think the important part to take away is that our students and our faculty (are most important),” said Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor. “It doesn’t matter who you are, to include a deputy sheriff that’s with my office. If you violate these laws, you’re going to go to jail.”

Taylor promised a thorough investigation, and he stated his office is confident there were no other students involved. He said that his office has taken all measures to make sure the students are safe.

Cooner, who had been employed with the sheriff's office for about a year and a half, began serving as a school resource officer at Russell County Middle School in August 2026. According to investigators, the victim was a student at Russell County High School, and no issues have been found at the middle school.

Following his arrest, Cooner was booked and held in the Tallapoosa County Jail because Russell County doesn’t house offenders who worked in its jurisdiction. He also previously worked for the Chambers County and Lee County sheriff’s offices. His bond was set at $10,000 per charge, totaling $40,000.

If convicted, Cooner faces between two and 20 years in prison on each count. District Attorney Rick Chancey indicated that the case could go before a grand jury in December. The investigation is ongoing.