Midway High School Principal and coach Curtis Thomas Been, 37, of Henryetta was released from jail Wednesday. He is charged with three counts of lewd molestation, one count of forcible sodomy, one count of rape by instrumentation, three counts of second-degree rape, and one count of making a lewd or indecent proposal to a child younger than 16.

All but the indecent proposal charge involve a girl who was 14 when the alleged molestation began in August 2006.

The girl told sheriff's investigators that she had been having an ongoing sexual relationship with Been, court records show. She also said she had been infatuated with Been and had a "crush" on him.

Investigators obtained a sample of possible sperm or body fluids from Been's office, where the girl said some of the encounters took place.

The school is about 20 miles southwest of Muskogee, in Council Hill, near the McIntosh County line.

Muskogee County Sheriff's Deputy Jan Ray said the evidence was sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation lab.

The indecent proposal charge was filed in connection with an incident involving a girl younger than 16 who reportedly refused Been's alleged advances.

Chad Richardson, Been's attorney, said Been's family came up with the $150,000 cash to get him out of jail because they are confident that he will be cleared of the accusations.

If that happens, they will get their money back.

"They're a tight-knit family," Richardson said.

He said he was shocked that Been was charged before test results of the physical evidence came back and that his client was "destroyed."

Assistant District Attorney Nikki Baker Dotson said the allegations have been thoroughly investigated.

"The state would not file charges if it didn't feel there was sufficient evidence," she said.

"The state feels there is sufficient evidence with or without DNA evidence, and we're awaiting those results."

Dotson said she is confident in the information prosecutors have, including statements from two victims and others who are willing to testify.

Richardson said Been caught the girls drinking liquor on the last day of school. He said that when Been threatened to suspend them, they vowed that they would get back at him.

Dotson said the victims should not be bad-mouthed in the media and that the proper forum for the case is court.

She said she doesn't know whether the drinking accusations are true.

"Even if a child were to act out, it doesn't give you any right to molest them," she said.

Midway Superintendent Don Ford said Been is on administrative leave with pay.

This is Been's second year to coach the Class C Midway Chargers.

Susan Hylton 581-8381
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com