Tulsa World: State Briefs

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State Briefs

By Staff Reports & NewsOK.com
Published: 11/11/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 11/11/2009 4:07 AM

Former teacher charged with molesting 2 students

MIAMI, Okla. — A former Wyandotte band director is being held on $650,000 bail on charges alleging that he molested two former students.

Brian Matthew Rash, 38, of Joplin, Mo., is charged in Ottawa County District Court with first-degree rape, first-degree attempted rape, four counts of rape by instrumentation and two counts of lewd or indecent proposal or acts to a child, District Attorney Eddie Wyant said Tuesday.

He is being held in Jasper County, Mo., to await extradition to Oklahoma.

The sexual-misconduct accusations came to light during a five-month investigation after Rash's residence was vandalized Oct. 24. During the investigation, an Ottawa County sheriff's deputy noticed that the doors to all three of Rash's vehicles were open, according to an affidavit.

Written on the side of a truck in either a red marker or crayon was "You are a child molester," the affidavit states.

A former band student, who is now 21, confessed to currently and previously vandalizing the residence because he said Rash had repeatedly molested him since the fifth grade, the affidavit states.

Another victim and former band student who is now 22 reported to authorities sexual activities with Rash when he was between the ages of 10 and 13, the affidavit states.

— Sheila Stogsdill, World correspondent

Man at scene of fatal OKC arson is sought by police

OKLAHOMA CITY — Police are looking for a man they said was at a fire at a rental house where four people were found dead Monday.

Master Sgt. Gary Knight said firefighters found the bodies about 5:15 a.m. The fire, which was reported by a neighbor, was set intentionally, Knight said.

He said the man they are searching for, whose name was not released, is not now a suspect but that police have reason to think he might have information that could further the investigation.

The names of the man and three women who died had not been released Tuesday.

Knight said Jose Fernando Fierro, 31, who lived in the house, was not among the dead.

The state Medical Examiner's Office has not ruled on the cause of death of any of the victims. A spokeswoman said their autopsies had not been completed Tuesday.

Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said the office will be closed Wednesday for Veterans Day but that more information could be released Thursday.

"It is a complex case, and sometimes it takes a while to make positive identification," Ballard said.

Melvin Watkins, whose family owns the house, said he rented it to Fierro, who had lived there for about three months.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300.

— From The Oklahoman By Staff Reports & NewsOK.com

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