Singer Tanya Tucker Files Protection Order

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) _ Country singer Tanya Tucker has filed an order of protection against her former fiance, whom Tucker claims has harassed and assaulted her. <br/><br/>Tucker, 46, alleges that Jerry

Monday, March 7th 2005, 10:10 am

By: News On 6

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) _ Country singer Tanya Tucker has filed an order of protection against her former fiance, whom Tucker claims has harassed and assaulted her.

Tucker, 46, alleges that Jerry Laseter has harassed her before shows, grabbed her by the throat, given her a black eye and threatened her.

Tucker and Laseter, 43, share a daughter, Layla Laseter, 5.

The order was signed by a Williamson County judge on Thursday. A hearing is scheduled for April 1 at the county courthouse.

Laseter denied the allegations Friday, saying he never hit Tucker nor had he ever been physically abusive in any way.

Tucker said in a written statement that on Jan. 29 she was awakened when Laseter poured ``ice cold water on me and started yelling at me.''

She said he started poking her in the chest and grabbed her by the throat. A sheriff's deputy was called to the scene, but Tucker did not want to file charges.

Tucker locked herself in a bathroom, and Laseter kicked in the door, according to the deputy's report.

Roberta Ann Carroll, Tucker's personal assistant, also filed an order of protection against Laseter. Carroll wrote that Laseter struck her in the eye and pulled her hair. She claims Laseter has threatened to kill her.

Police have been called to Tucker's home nine times in the last two years. Five of those calls involved domestic disputes, according to records at the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.