Accuser Takes Witness Stand In Former Tulsa School Teacher's Molestation Trial

By Ashi Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The young man who accused a former Tulsa teacher of sexually abusing him is on the witness stand Thursday morning.

10/5/2010 Related story: Jury Selection Underway In Molestation Trial Of Former Tulsa Big Brother Volunteer

John Gisler was arrested in July of 2009, after he was accused of abusing a teenage boy he mentored through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program.  Gisler is facing molestation, child pornography and child abuse charges.

Investigators say the abuse took place over a three-year period.

Prosecutors called three witnesses Wednesday, including the victim's grandmother.  She admitted she encouraged her grandson's relationship with Gisler and said she was never concerned about him.

She also told the court her grandson spent the night with Gisler on several occasions, at Gisler's home and on out-of-town trips.  She said she noticed her grandson would brood alone in his room after coming home from an overnight stay with Gisler, but admitted she never told police, her grandson's counselors, or the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program about it.

Defense attorneys referenced several quarterly reports that were conducted by the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, where all she did was praise Gisler.

Tulsa Public Schools fired Gisler from his job as a science teacher at Whitney Middle School after the allegations came to light.