TAMPA, Fla. — Robert Marve, a former Plant High quarterback and Plant High School volunteer coach and University of Miami quarterback, turned himself in to Hillsborough County authorities Friday morning for charges of domestic battery. Marve bonded out just before noon.
An arrest warrant out of Key West accuses Marve of felony battery and domestic battery by strangulation. His former girlfriend is accusing him of beating her, stomping on her throat and pulling a knife on her.
In police and court records, 27-year-old Channing Tomes wrote that inside their room at a Key West hotel, Marve became angry when he saw another man messaged her on Instagram. She accuses him of continuously striking her and stomping on her throat until she was covered in bruises.
She added that during the confrontation, he pulled out a knife and told her "one of us wasn't walking out alive," she wrote. She claims he handed her the knife and when she refused to take it he threw her on the bed and bit her hand until it bled.
She also wrote about a separate May incident where she claims Marve bit her lips at a club and beat her outside. She wrote he tore off her clothes and beat her in the car on the way to his Tampa home. Once there, Tomes says he dragged her inside and sexually assaulted her.
Following Marve's arrest Tomes told us via text messages:
“In a society where people have become comfortable enough with sexual relationships that we have movies and books that sell out featuring elements of sexual practices involving bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism (BDSM), Robert Marve is no Christian Grey. The abuse I, and other victims endured was not sexually based, but pure evil. I am beyond relieved to know he is finally exposed as the monster he truly is. I am so thankful for everyone who has worked tirelessly on this case, as well as other victims. I am adamantly pursuing these charges to ensure no woman will ever walk into his life blindly. Robert Marve has continued to escalate in his abuse and on multiple occasions I felt as though I was going to die in his hands. I do not care if I am the face of this case, or if my sexual life, job, or school is exposed in this process... my ultimate goal was to see that he never hurt another woman again and stand up for past victims who were too scared to come forward. Rape and domestic violence is never okay. I have found that the only “safe word” with Robert Marve is 911.”
We also reached out to Hillsborough County Public Schools. A spokesperson says Marve was a volunteer assistant coach, not an employee.
"He is not involved in the program at this time and will not be pending the outcome of the police investigation.
We also heard back from Tampa Sports Academy where Marve is the athletic director. The company's attorney, Jennifer Jones commented via email:
"Tampa Sports Academy was surprised and dismayed to learn about the serious allegations regarding Robert Marve’s personal conduct. Our hearts go out to those involved. Immediately upon learning of these allegations, Mr. Marve was placed on a leave of absence for an indefinite period of time. We respect the legal process and will take appropriate measures as more information becomes available to us."
Marve's attorney gave us this response:
"Mr. Marve and Ms. Tomes were involved in a very volatile physical and sexual relationship. That relationship went on for five months and included from its inception bondage, dominance/submissive sex all consensual and much of it she brought into the relationship. She is employed in the adult entertainment industry. Everything that went on between them although unconventional was consensual.
Tomes recently filed a petition for an injunction wherein she alleged that on or about May 20th 2018 that Mr. Marve abused her physically. But then 6 weeks later she is on a vacation with him to celebrate 4th of July weekend in Key West.
We reviewed the warrant issued by Monroe County and the very morning after the incident she alleges involved abuse, she was snorkeling with Mr. Marve and a group of friends. After snorkeling, she went to a pool party. She described him as evil and if that’s true she willingly dated evil for five months, had bizarre sexual encounters with evil and went on vacation with evil on numerous occasion. Perhaps her definition of evil is not very clear."
Tomes filed a restraining order against Marve in Hillsborough County. A judge will hear her petition on July 19th.
