An Alabama judge issued an arrest warrant for aspiring country singer Austin Tanner after he violated his bond conditions by attending the 2024 CMA Awards in Nashville without court permission.
The 38-year-old singer, who was indicted earlier this year on fraud and theft charges, shared photos on social media of himself and his wife Skyla posing on the red carpet near Bridgestone Arena on November 20. "✨ First CMA Awards ✨ Last night was nothing short of magical as we walked the red carpet at the CMA Awards. This moment marked a dream come true!" Tanner wrote in his post.
The Mobile County District Attorney's Office filed a motion on November 25 to revoke Tanner's $20,000 bond, noting that he is not permitted to leave Alabama without court approval. The motion was granted the following day, leading to the arrest warrant.
Assistant District Attorney Clay Rossi included screenshots of Tanner's social media posts as evidence in the motion. Rossi pointed out that Tanner was familiar with the travel restrictions, having previously requested and received permission to visit Florida for business in June.
Tanner's attorney Frederick Helmsing stated he was unaware of his client's out-of-state travel. The singer had been scheduled for a deposition hearing on November 21, which was rescheduled on the morning of the CMAs.
The case stems from Tanner's April indictment by a grand jury on two counts of first-degree insurance fraud, theft of property, and attempted theft. Despite describing himself as being "on the cusp of country music fame" on his website, sources confirm Tanner was not officially invited to the awards ceremony.
A hearing to review the motion is scheduled for December 4.