Tulsa World: Teacher charged with sex crimes

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Teacher charged with sex crimes
He is accused of raping and sodomizing a boy he mentored with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

CHARGED
John C. Gisler: The Whitney Middle School teacher has been employed by at least six area schools.

By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Published: 7/9/2009 2:30 AM
Last Modified: 7/10/2009 12:43 PM

Document: View a copy of the affidavit.

Related story: Program defends screening process.

A Whitney Middle School teacher has been charged with lewd molestation, forcible sodomy and second-degree rape involving a boy he mentored with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

John C. Gisler, 41, who has worked as a science teacher at Tulsa's Whitney Middle School since August 2005 was charged in Tulsa County District Court on Monday.

Gisler worked previously as a teacher at Clyde Boyd Middle School and Central Junior High in Sand Springs and Sapulpa Middle School. Before that, he worked as a special education paraprofessional, working with middle-schoolers in Jenks Public Schools and working with high-schoolers at Tulsa's Edison Preparatory School.

Court records indicate that the charges against Gisler stem from January 2006.

Tulsa Police Officer Leland Ashley said a 17-year-old boy reported to officers on June 15 that Gisler, who was his mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, had been molesting him since he was 14.

According to a police affidavit filed in court, detectives recorded a phone call that the boy made to Gisler in mid-June in which Gisler "made admissions of guilt, specifically apologizing to the victim for 'hurting him sexually.' "

The affidavit goes on to state "the defendant threatened suicide and begged the victim not to tell anyone. The defendant stated that if the victim disclosed the abuse he would lose his job and go to jail for a long time."

The boy told police that Gisler initially paid him to masturbate and then the abuse evolved into oral and anal sex.

"The allegations came out when he was speaking with a therapist. Once we investigated and forwarded the case on to the district attorney's office, a warrant was issued for his arrest," Ashley said.

Gisler was arrested Tuesday afternoon and bonded out of the Tulsa Jail later that evening, according to records.

An official with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma declined to say when Gisler volunteered with the organization, although she said he is not currently involved.

"We are alarmed and deeply saddened by reports of any child being harmed. Because there is an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate and irresponsible for us to discuss or speculate about any specifics," said CEO Sharla Hall.

"We have zero tolerance for abuse. Our volunteers and staff undergo thorough screening and background checks, and we provide ongoing professional support for our children and families."

Officials with the Tulsa Public Schools compliance office and campus police department are investigating whether any activities occurred on school property or with TPS students.

"Even though we've been assured the allegations do not involve Whitney students, we are conducting our own investigation to ensure the safety and security of our students," Superintendent Keith Ballard said in a press statement.

Lloyd Snow, superintendent of Sand Springs Public Schools, said Gisler was a valued teacher and coach at that district from fall 2001 through spring 2005.

"Mr. Gisler was considered a pretty effective teacher. We had no incidents with him whatsoever," Snow said. "He did a little coaching for us in the middle grades like eighth-grade or ninth-grade basketball. In fact, we were a little bit disappointed that he left us to go to Tulsa."

Snow said Gisler had even earned some national recognition for overcoming a hearing impairment.

Gisler's employment application at TPS, which the Tulsa World obtained through an open records request, states that he held a temporary position as a science teacher at Sapulpa Middle School from February through May 2001 and that he worked before that as a paraprofessional at Edison Preparatory School in Tulsa from August 2000 through February 2001.

A spokeswoman for the Jenks school district verified that Gisler was a paraprofessional working with middle-schoolers in that district from September 1996 to August 2000.

Gisler also served as an assistant junior varsity baseball coach for summer league teams at Bishop Kelley High School in 1995 and 1997. The Rev. Brian O'Brien, the president of the school, said Gisler was a volunteer, not a paid employee, and that there were never any complaints made about him.

Tulsa World archive stories from 1995 list a John Gisler as the sports coordinator at the Thornton Family YMCA and as a camp director at the Bixby YMCA, now known as Daily Family YMCA.

Officials at the YMCA of Greater Tulsa said they keep employment records for only seven years, so they couldn't say if it was the same man.

Andrea Eger 581-8470
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com By ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa middle school teacher charged with lewd molestation," which was published on 7/8/2009.

	Report Comment im4osu, Broken Arrow (7/8/2009 1:41:49 PM) "Tulsa Public Schools officials said the allegations were not related to his work" are you kidding me, that "CHOMO" should not be able to look at a kid, much less be around them.
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (7/8/2009 1:45:15 PM) Ditto im4osu.
	Report Comment Zed, Tulsa (7/8/2009 1:47:17 PM) First impressions of this guys mug. He actually LOOKS stupid. Look at his eyes ---- I think he realizes he's in deep doo. He got teaching accreditation ...... for what? Of course he's only accused at the moment. Wouldn't be right to assume he's guilty. Some kids will try anything to get back at someone they dislike.
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (7/8/2009 1:49:57 PM) I'm with you Radar he does look like a perv
	Report Comment Bullhead, Nicut (7/8/2009 1:50:02 PM) Waiting for more details. He has a strange look about him. You know, it seems that if a teacher has been employed by 2 or more schools at any given time, information about why and what happened that he/she would be looking for a new job would be disclosed. Do the school systems here not have a buddy-system? You'd think they'd all want our kids safe and would share any shady involvements or suspicious activity by former teachers. Sometimes I think our school system is to blame because they let these people move from school to school.
	Report Comment NOT JADED, Tulsa (7/8/2009 1:50:03 PM) Just GROSS.
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Creek Cty (7/8/2009 1:55:51 PM) He was a big brother? Bullhead, I don't think school systems communicate as well as they should. (Bobdog thinks its a fear of being suied.)
	Report Comment Just_me:), (7/8/2009 2:04:21 PM) People like this is why so many home school now days. Its not even safe to send kids to school anymore
	Report Comment ProdigalTulsan, Tulsa (7/8/2009 2:08:48 PM) While my instinct says there's something not right about this guy, I have to agree with Zed. Being accused by a child is a serious issue but until we are reasonably sure that the child is credible & not acting out of spite or for attention (or having been coached), I'm going to hope my instinct is wrong.
	Report Comment FaithnHim, Crested Bute, (7/8/2009 2:14:33 PM) How dare he violate any child. How dare he violate a child who is already has special needs, otherwise wouldnt have been enrolled in the BB/BS program. Unbelievable. How to people live with themselves. We all make mistakes but its crap like this that goes above mistake and crosses the line of pure evil.
	Report Comment MamaDeck, Collinsville (7/8/2009 2:15:13 PM) The charges are from 2006, why wasn't this brought to light before now? Somebody had to be aware he was employed by a school!
	Report Comment Oldfatdude, Shattrath (7/8/2009 2:17:57 PM) It's unfair to judge until the facts are known, especially just based on his picture. Opposite speculation: Based on the length of his whiskers and the tired look in his face, it's possible that the picture above was taken on Monday morning after he spent a weekend in jail with little sleep. Clean him up and he might look more normal than some of the posters here. If he did it, punish him to the max. (I know, I judge some people on looks alone, but with some people looks are not ambiguous. One look at me and you can tell I'm a hypocrite.)
	Report Comment jhill, Tulsa (7/8/2009 2:20:54 PM) Right now we've got accusations and a photo of an odd-looking guy. Let's wait to convene the lynch mob until we know more.
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (7/8/2009 2:32:33 PM) Regarding this man's looks, you can't always judge a book by its cover. Innocent until proven guilty. What I find odd is that the supposed rape happened in January 2006. Why did it take so long? Seems rather strange.
	Report Comment Oldfatdude, Shattrath (7/8/2009 2:32:38 PM) I'm not defending him, just not passing judgment yet. Dr. Johnny Fever was one of my most favorite characters on TV ever. Of course, I had a big-time crush on Jennifer (Loni Anderson).
	Report Comment Iamwatchingu, Broken Arrow (7/8/2009 2:39:55 PM) GIVE HIM THE CHAIR. what is that the ACLU thinking about taking his case to get his job back
	Report Comment justpete, Nowata (7/8/2009 2:40:55 PM) Oldfatdude, you are to kind. LOL! Most likely taken Yesterday, after a couple of hous in the jail after he was picked up in the park going, "c'mere little kid, want some candy." They don't make these accusations and certainly don't file charges with out a truck load of proof first. Really? Go tell the Duke lacrosse team that bull....
	Report Comment MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (7/8/2009 2:47:03 PM) Innocent till proven guilty. But if he is found guilty I don't think there could be a punishment hard enough to equal the vileness of predation this guy did.
	Report Comment TheFoundOgle, Mid-town (7/8/2009 2:49:59 PM) MamaDeck, Collinsville (7/8/2009 2:15:13 PM) The charges are from 2006, why wasn't this brought to light before now? Somebody had to be aware he was employed by a school! *Maybe because the alleged victim only just recently told somebody about his molestation???*
	Report Comment Sooner Alum 04, (7/8/2009 2:58:24 PM) DON'T WASTE OUR MONEY TRYING THIS PERVERT, JUST LINE HIM UP AGAINST A WALL USE A FIVE CENT BULLET AND END IT. THESE FREAKS THAT PREY ON OUR CHILDREN MUST BE RID OF, INSTEAD OF WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY FROM NOW ON THEY SHOULD LINE THEM UP FOR A FIRING SQUAD, I'LL VOLUNTEER AND SUPPLY THE AMMO.
	Report Comment Cooldaddy, Broken Arrow (7/8/2009 3:02:32 PM) Yea, he does look creepy. I'm not going to pass judgment on this guy until I get more info. According to the article, this event took place outside the realm of his work as a teacher.
	Report Comment DarwinMarx, (7/8/2009 3:09:19 PM) I think this guy coached Tulsa Little league baseball in 2006.
	Report Comment born okay the 1st time, tulsa (7/8/2009 3:21:56 PM) Amazing how the lynch mob mindset works. How about innocent til proven guilty. What? People don't lie? Kids aren't capable of lying? It CAN happen. A lot of times it turns out to be true, a lot of times it does not. Agreeing on Oldfatdudes interpretation of why the man looks so 'rough'. SPend a weekend with our city's fines, you'll look pretty much like you were rode hard & out away wet yourself. I do find it odd the charges werent filed util 3 years later. Very odd indeed. Highly doubtful of any physical evidence now, so it will be a 'he said, he said' situation. I wonder how many of you jumping on the lynch mob bandwagon claim to be Christian? Judge not, lest you be judged” (Lk 6: 27-38). If he's guilty, throw the book at him, but let the system do the job it was designed to do.
	Report Comment born okay the 1st time, tulsa (7/8/2009 3:22:15 PM) Of course, none of this matters if youre in Muskogee or McAlester.....
	Report Comment lakerunner696, (7/8/2009 3:24:42 PM) Send him to meet MJ

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