Affidavit Gives Details In Sexual Misconduct Case Of Ex-Cleveland, Clayton Teacher

Pushmataha County authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a former Clayton School teacher for complaints of sexual misconduct with a student.

In March, Clayton Police requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation open a case based on allegations Rhonda Michelle Ford, 29, was having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.

According to First Assistant District Attorney Johnny Loard, bond on the warrant has been set at $100,000.

An affidavit filed Wednesday in Pushmataha County accuses Ford of lewd or indecent acts with a child under the age of 16, second-degree rape, sodomy and permitting children under 21 to possess or consume alcohol.

A Clayton student, 15, told investigators he had sex with Ford on at least 10 occasions in her home after their relationship started in February.

According to an affidavit, shortly after Valentine's Day, the student said he and Ford kissed and then had a sexual encounter that involved touching of the genitals. The boy said he returned to Ford's residence and had intercourse with her the next day and up to 10 times total.

Three times the two performed oral sex on each other, the affidavit says.

The boy told authorities that because of the sexual relationship, he could identify a tattoo on Ford's pelvic area, which is low enough to be hidden by panties. 

The document also alleges Ford provided alcohol to three students at her residence in March.

The three students, two boys and a girl, admitted to helping Ford move into her new house and afterward Ford bought them a 30-pack of beer, the affidavit says. The students told investigators Ford then fixed herself a cocktail -- pineapple juice and Malibu rum -- and provided one to one of the students, the affidavit says.

Ford has since resigned from Clayton Public Schools.

She previously was employed by Cleveland Public Schools.

On Friday, Karie Kellert, Assistant Superintendent of Cleveland Public Schools, confirmed to News On 6 that Ford was employed in Cleveland as a high school teacher for only one semester, from August 2009-January 2010.

When told Ford was under investigation in another school district and asked if Cleveland had problems with her, Kellert replied: "Typically we hire people on one-year contracts, so that may possibly be right."

Cleveland High School principal Alan Baker, who is listed on the affidavit as a witness for the State of Oklahoma in the case, could not be reached Friday for comment.