Cobb officer resigns, accused of assaulting mentally disabled woman

Robert Lanier New

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Robert Lanier New

A Cobb County police officer accused of assaulting a mentally disabled woman during sex resigned Monday, officials confirmed.

Robert Lanier New remained in jail Monday a week after allegations surfaced he choked and slapped a woman, who has the mental capacity of a 10- to 14-year-old during sex and attempted to use her to solicit her 12-year-old niece for sex.

Authorities said New was also the subject of an administrative investigation, also involving a woman.

“We are investigating if he adhered to departmental policies,” Cobb County police chief Mike Register said at a press conference last week. The investigation began weeks before the allegations against New surfaced.

New faces charges of felony aggravated assault-strangulation, criminal solicitation, computer pornography, and misdemeanor simple battery.

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New had been with the Cobb County police department since February 2005.

Previously, New had two stints with Emerson police, city officials confirmed to Channel 2 Action News. New first served with the department from September 1998 to February 1999, when he left to work for Acworth police. New worked for the department until November 2000, when he came back to Emerson police.

He was promoted to police chief three weeks after his return.

New resigned in 2004 to work as a government contractor, officials told Channel 2. Shortly after, New joined Cobb County police.