OU Instructor Charged With Second-Degree Rape

<p>An instructor at the University of Oklahoma has been charged for engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage boy.</p>

Wednesday, March 21st 2018, 11:51 am

By: News 9


An instructor at the University of Oklahoma is facing rape charges for engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage boy.

Norman police say the university’s French language coordinator Kyle Podrecca, 27, is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy, who he first met while he was working as a permanent substitute teacher at Westmoore High School.

The teen told police the relationship developed in April 2017 when Podrecca started tutoring him after class. Last May and June, police say the then 15-year-old boy would come to the house in Norman where Podrecca used to live to receive French lessons.

The attraction between Podrecca and his student escalated into a sexual relationship. They did not report the illegal affair, but this February, the teen started talking.

“It was reported to school officials by some other people that he had told of those encounters,” said Sarah Jensen, spokesperson for the Norman Police Department.

Westmoore administrators called the boy's mother, who then called police. The teen told investigators he had sex with Podrecca twice, which was confirmed by Podrecca himself.

“During the course of that investigation, that individual did admit to having some sexual encounters with the student,” Jensen said.

Police say at this time, they do not believe there are any other victims, but urge anyone who has had an inappropriate encounter with Podrecca to come forward.

Jensen said, “We feel like this victim did the right thing by coming forward and notifying us of this incident so we can further investigate it to make sure it does not happen to anyone else.”

Podrecca turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday. He is facing two charges of second-degree rape. He has since bonded out.

A spokesperson for the University of Oklahoma issued the following statement regarding this incident:

The university has been made aware of the allegations. The instructor has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

A spokesperson for Moore Public Schools also issued a statement on the incident:

Mr. Podrecca is no longer a substitute teacher for us and hasn’t been since last year.  Also, he’s been charged and did turn himself in on the rape II charges yesterday.  Since these incidents occurred off campus with a former substitute we will defer to the police department for any interviews.  

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