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Joseph Wayne Cooner III

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.

Originally published on citizenofeastalabama.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.