School Band Director Charged

The Haskell band director accused of having sexual contact with a student is free on bond. Larry Scheer was suspended from his job last week and now faces several criminal charges. The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports a 17-year-old student told police her band director forced her to have sexual contact with him, twice on school grounds.

Haskell, Oklahoma is home to less than 2,000 people. Now this small town is dealing with what some might call a big city problem. A local band director, member of the community for 30 years, stands accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old student.

Larry Scheer was arrested on Wednesday, after he was suspended from Haskell Schools last week. The 17 year old told police she had two sexual encounters with her band teacher on school grounds. She says last December, she was in the back of the band's practice room, when the 58-year-old teacher took off her shirt and bra, pulled down his own pants, and begged her to perform a sex act.

The 17-year-old says in a police affidavit, he told her to "make an old man happy." She told him no, and then he forced her. She says two weeks later in the same practice room; he locked the door, took off her clothing and performed a sex act on her.

The teen didn't report these incidents. It was a cell phone that got police involved. The student's mother discovered sexual voice mails and called police.

Scheer's attorney says his client is innocent. And, that he's a lifelong educator, who's never faced any allegations like this.

While Larry Scheer is free on bond, he could be out of a job on Friday. The Haskell School Board is scheduled to hear the superintendent's recommendation that they fire the band director. He's taught there for about five years.