Tana Perkins Reneau, Blaine School Board candidate and former teacher, pleaded not guilty to felony charges of child rape, abuse and incest at a June 16 hearing in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Reneau faces 11 charges, including rape of a child in the first degree, second degree and third degree; four counts of assault of a child in the second degree; three counts of incest in the first degree; and one count of incest in the second degree.
Numerous foster and adopted children under Reneau’s care allege she has been physically and sexually abusing them as punishment since January 2020, according to court documents.
Victims include three girls between the ages of 7 and 14 and one 11-year-old boy. Three of the children are Black and Reneau allegedly called them racial slurs. Brigid Collins Family Support Center conducted interviews and exams of the children and found injuries and scarring consistent with abuse, according to court documents.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested Reneau June 2 following a report from Child Protective Services.
Reneau allegedly possessed gabapentin, an anti-convulsive medication, at the time of her arrest, court documents state. The pills were prescribed to her son.
Reneau was released from jail June 10 on a $500,000 bond. Her next court date is scheduled for Aug. 28.
