Ex-teacher enters blind plea to second-degree rape of 15-year-old
BY DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
Friday, December 07, 2012
12/07/12 at 5:26 AM
A 30-year-old woman is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9 in Pushmataha County after entering a "blind plea" connected to allegations that she had sex with a 15-year-old boy last February while she was a teacher at Clayton High School.
Rhonda Michelle Ford entered the plea to four counts of second-degree rape, according to her attorney, Allen Malone.
Malone said Ford faces a maximum of 12 years in prison, although he expressed hope that Special Judge Gary Brock might impose a sentence that would allow Ford out of custody promptly.
According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Clayton Police on March 14 requested the bureau open a case based on allegations Ford was having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old freshman student. The boy allegedly admitted to having sex with Ford on at least 10 occasions at her home, OSBI stated in a May 3 release.
Ford's plea on Wednesday pertained to alleged liaisons with the student Feb. 18, Feb. 19, Feb. 21 and Feb. 23, 2012.
She was charged May 2 with four counts each of second-degree rape and sodomy, three counts of permitting "invitees" younger than 21 to consume alcohol or drugs and one count of lewd molestation, court records show. The lewd molestation count was not included in an amended version of the charges filed Wednesday.
Ford taught at Cleveland (Okla.) Public Schools from August 2009 to January 2010 before teaching at Clayton.
She resigned from Clayton, according to the OSBI. Malone said Thursday that Ford has "lost her career. No one is going to hire her as a teacher."
Ford will have to register as a sex offender, Malone said.
Original Print Headline: Woman enters plea to second-degree rape
David Harper 918-581-8476
david.harper@tulsaworld.com
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