Neighbors React To Gisler's Sex Charge Arrest

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Neighbors React To Gisler's Sex Charge Arrest

John Gisler is charged with sexually abusing a teen he was paired with in Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Neighbors say Gisler kept to himself in his west Tulsa home.

Gisler is on suspension from his job as a science teacher at Whitney Middle School. A spokesperson said she expects him to be let go.

By Dan Bewley and Scott Thompson, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A former volunteer for Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Tulsa is charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy. Tulsa Police say it happened several times over a two-year period.

The CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma confirms John Gisler's victim was enrolled in the program. Some west Tulsa residents say they can't believe something like this has been going on in their neighborhood.

Forty-one-year-old John Gisler faces three counts of sexual assault. Police say some of the acts took place in Gisler's home in west Tulsa.

"It sickens me to have somebody living that close, and I have a 16-year-old stepson that lives here - and that could be him and that bothers me to no end," said neighbor Kert McCarty.

Kert McCarty says he rarely saw Gisler outside and never saw a young boy or anything that looked suspicious.

"Never seen nothing - nothing like that. I've only seen his car three times," McCarty said. "I've only seen the guy maybe once."

Maria Saldierna lives across the street from Gisler. She also says he kept to himself.

"I never think that something happen like that around this neighborhood because really - he was so quiet that guy," Maria Saldierna said. "I never saw he do something. He was quiet man."

Police say the sexual assaults started in 2006 when the boy was 14 years old and ended last summer.

Investigators found out after the teenager sought therapy.

Gisler is a former volunteer with Big Brothers of Tulsa, and the CEO confirmed that Gisler and the alleged victim were a matched pair. She declined to go on camera but released a statement saying Big Brothers is working with authorities as well as current parents and children who may have been in contact with the 41 year old.

Gisler has also been a science teacher for Tulsa Public Schools at Whitney Middle School for the last four years. Neither Tulsa Public School officials nor police believe any of Gisler's students were victims.

Neighbors here are shocked and hope Gisler never returns to the neighborhood.

"He needs to be put away for good and not be able to hurt another person again," Kert McCarty said.

A Tulsa Public School spokeswoman says Gisler is currently on suspension, but she expects him to be let go.

Big Brothers of Tulsa says it's providing counseling for anyone connected to the organization who may need it.

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