A Russell County Sheriff’s Office school resource officer has been arrested on four counts of engaging in a sex act with a student under the age of 19, according to Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor.

Joseph Wayne Cooner, 30, was booked into the Tallapoosa County Jail at 8:21 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, according to inmate records. He was initially listed as being held on behalf of another agency, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.

During a news conference Wednesday morning, Taylor announced that Cooner had been charged with four counts of a school employee engaging in a sex act with a student under 19.

According to the Russell County Sheriff’s Office website, Cooner was serving as a school resource officer at Russell County Middle School as of Tuesday evening. The student involved in the investigation was of high school age.

Cooner’s LinkedIn profile indicates he has worked in law enforcement since 2019, with previous experience listed at the Opelika Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Barbour County Sheriff’s Office and Lanett Police Department.

The Russell County School District released the following statement regarding the investigation:

“Russell County School District has recently been made aware of a single incident involving an allegation of a school resource officer and a student. This matter was immediately reported to the Russell County Sheriff’s Department. It is currently under investigation, and the student’s guardians have been notified.

“The safety, security, and well-being of our students and employees remain our highest priorities. We take all allegations of misconduct very seriously and are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

“As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide additional details at this time. We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our school community.”

The investigation remains ongoing.