An aspiring country singer who boasted of his starry trip to the 2024 CMA Awardsmay soon find himself behind bars after prosecutors noticed that his visit to Nashville violated his bond conditions.
An Alabama judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Austin Tanner on Tuesday, Nov. 26, just days after Tanner traveled from his home in Alabama to Nashville with wife Skyla to attend the CMAs — without first asking permission of the court, according to documents obtained .
Trouble for Tanner, who was indicted on fraud and theft charges earlier this year, began on Nov. 21, when he shared photosto social media of him and his wife posing on the red carpet across the street from Bridgestone Arena the night before. PEOPLE has learned that Tanner was not invited to the awards show itself.
“✨ 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!” he captioned his post.
On Nov. 25, the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion asking a judge to revoke Tanner’s bond, as he is not allowed to leave the state of Alabama without the court’s okay, according to the motion, which was obtained by PEOPLE.
That motion was granted the next day, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Tanner, 38, was indicted by a grand jury in April on two counts of first-degree insurance fraud, theft of property and attempted theft, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. He was released on a $20,000 bond, and had been scheduled to appear in a deposition hearing the morning of Nov. 21, though the hearing was “abruptly rescheduled” the morning of the CMA Awards, according to the Lagniappe Daily.
Assistant District Attorney Clay Rossi included screenshots of Tanner’s CMAs social media posts in his motion, and argued that the singer was well aware of the conditions of his bond, as he’d previously asked — and was given permission — to travel to Florida on business in June.
CMAs hosts Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Petyon Manning.
Disney/Frank Micelotta
“Given that the defendant was well versed in the travel conditions of his bond, and given his public disregard for those restrictions, the state seeks to revoke his bond,” Rossi wrote.
Tanner’s attorney Frederick Helmsing, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, said the hearing planned for Nov. 21 was rescheduled “due to the complexity of the case, issues over matters of law and ongoing investigations,” and said he was unaware Tanner was going out of state.
The aspiring star released a single called “All We Need” in March, and his website describes him as being “on the cusp of country music fame.”
Rossi’s motion will be reviewed in a hearing scheduled for Dec. 4.
