Another former Miami teacher is accused of sexual misconduct | KSNF/CODE

MIAMI, Okla. (AP) — A former Miami high school teacher accused of sexual misconduct with three students is free on bond.

Kaynen Derris Cole, 28, is charged in Ottawa District Court with sexual battery and three counts of inciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor using technology, all felonies.

He was released from the Ottawa County Jail on Tuesday on $80,000 bail and is due back in court on June 26, according to court records.

Cole was employed by Miami Public Schools as a coach and teacher from August 2022 to May 2023.

He is accused of having inappropriate conversations with three female students and sexually abusing one of these students. Two of those students are still enrolled in Miami Public Schools; The third is now a graduate of Miami High School, according to an affidavit.

The investigation revealed the possibility of a fourth teenager, the affidavit states. According to investigators, the investigation was opened on October 30.

Patrick Abitbol, ​​Cole’s lawyer, denied any wrongdoing.

“There was communication with the students – but it was general communication – nothing inappropriate,” Abitbol said.

Cole is the second former Miami Public Schools teacher to be accused of sexual misconduct against a student this school year.

Cole left Miami for the Salina School District. Cole’s former girlfriend sent an email to Salina Public Schools Superintendent Earl Dalke expressing concern about Cole and his alleged inappropriate relationships with students from previous school districts, court documents show.

According to investigators, the former coach and teacher is currently on leave from his duties with the Salina School District.

Before joining the Miami School District, Cole worked for the Sand Springs School District. Although several online links were sent to several Sand Springs Public Schools employees for reference, only one reference was provided to Miami school officials, the affidavit states.

The reference filled out by Superintendent JJ ​​Smith gave Miami Public Schools no knowledge of Cole’s previous problems at Sand Springs and even stated that he would rehire Cole, court documents show.

This referral was sent to Miami Public Schools after Cole was forced to resign from his position as a physical education and health teacher at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs because of his “engagement in social media and texting with female students” and ” “demonstrated the pattern of communicating with female minors to develop these relationships using technology and social media platforms,” the affidavit states.

Sand Springs police reported several reports investigating Cole and questioning him about his contact with female students.

“The referral to DHS (Department of Human Services) was completed by Sand Springs Public Schools after a departmental information report was filed with the Sand Springs Police Department stating that nothing of a sexual nature was transmitted or received,” said the investigators.

The affidavit states that despite the DHS report, “it appears from the allegations and documentation provided by the school system in its police report that there is a possibility of sexual content – ​​photographs and/or text messages – regarding sexual content between Cole and… insisted.”Students were divided.”

Cole told investigators that he was “assaulted” in schools by Sand Springs students, court documents show. He also denied that he had been reprimanded and written up. He later admitted to Miami investigators that he had been questioned about mental health over a text communication with a student, but did not get into trouble.

The accusations

***Sexual Graphic Content Warning***

The three teens said Cole communicated with them on social media platforms about mental health issues. He also ordered her to delete the messages, authorities said in legal documents.

When questioned, Cole initially denied any contact, but later admitted to communicating about mental health issues on social media, the affidavit states.

Two of the teens described their interaction with Cole to investigators as “more than just a traditional teacher-coach relationship.”

Investigators say screenshots show Cole talking about wanting to kiss the first teen and “destroy her in the most romantic way possible.”

The first teen told investigators that Cole had come to watch her play softball, the affidavit said.

Cole admitted to investigators that he spoke to the first teen about her “mental health,” and later said they discussed body images and basketball. Cole said the teen sent him a photo of herself in a two-piece swimsuit. Cole told investigators he “acknowledged that it would be inappropriate to receive swimsuit pictures from students, but they were about body images.”

He also denied that investigators sent or received nude photos or discussed sex with the second teen. Cole denied sending sexually charged messages, including saying he wanted “her to have his children.”

Cole allegedly asked the second teen for nude photos and sent the teen nude photos of himself, the affidavit said. Cole is also accused of kissing and touching her inappropriately during his planning period and “in his classroom.” The teen told investigators that she would go to Cole’s classroom during his lunch, “and they moved out of view of the camera and kissed,” the affidavit said.

Cole denied any contact or communication with the second teen outside of school hours, but ultimately said the teen would “come to his classroom during his scheduled period.”

The third teen told investigators as communication between the two increased that Cole would allow the teen to choose the outfits he wore and even told her that they probably shouldn’t communicate but would continue to do so anyway, that is it in the affidavit.

The third teen described Cole to investigators as “obsessed when she didn’t respond to him,” referring to text and phone messages.

She further described a conversation about her tongue in which Cole allegedly made a sexual innuendo, the affidavit said. Cole tried to convince the teenager to come to a ball game in Salina and go to a hotel with him and hang out. The teen refused to meet Cole outside of school, the affidavit states.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact Leslie Bissell of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Ottawa County at (918) 540-1621 if they suspect a child is a victim of abuse.