A teacher and coach at Pawnee High School in Oklahoma is at the center of an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), regarding allegations of sexual misconduct. According to Pawnee Superintendent of Schools, Ned Williams, “a basketball coach” has been suspended for up to ten days as permitted by law, although Williams …
A teacher and coach at Pawnee High School in Oklahoma is at the center of an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), regarding allegations of sexual misconduct. According to Pawnee Superintendent of Schools, Ned Williams, “a basketball coach” has been suspended for up to ten days as permitted by law, although Williams would not verify a name or the nature of the suspension. Separate sources within the school district have confirmed that junior high and high school history teacher, head girls’ basketball coach and golf coach Jeff Tatum has been suspended and hasn’t been at work. If you are facing sex crime charges in Oklahoma, your first course of action should be to consult our criminal defense lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center. With our attorneys on your side, you may be able to have your charges reduced to a lesser offense or possibly even dismissed altogether.
Sex Crimes Charges in Oklahoma
“The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office requested OSBI assistance with allegations into sexual misconduct between a teacher and a student in Pawnee,” said OSBI spokesperson Jessica Brown. According to PCSO Undersheriff Monte Johnson, his office turned over the case to OSBI in late March, and Brown says there is still an “open and very active investigation” into the allegations. Under Oklahoma law, sexual relationships between certain individuals are considered unlawful, including in cases when one of the individuals is under the legal custody or supervision of a state agency, a county or a municipality, and that person engages in sexual intercourse with a state, county or municipality employee, such as is the case in a student-teacher relationship. In fact, this offense can be charged as rape in Oklahoma, even if the minor consented to the act.
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Under Oklahoma law, sex crimes are considered serious offenses, and these crimes are punished accordingly. Even in sexual relationships where consent is given, statutory rape may be charged in Oklahoma and most other states if the victim is between 14 and 18 years of age, on the basis that the victim is legally unable to give consent. In Oklahoma, individuals convicted of sexual offenses like rape or statutory rape may face significant penalties, including jail time, hefty fines and more. If you have been charged with rape or another sex crime in Oklahoma, contact our criminal defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible. Our defense team has years of experience protecting Oklahomans against sex crime charges, and will work diligently to help you build a strong defense in your case.