An instructor from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College has been taken into custody on allegations of sexual abuse involving a child.
Aaron Smith, a resident of Fairland, is currently being detained in the Ottawa County Jail on six charges related to child sexual abuse. His bail has been set at $150,000.
Smith was apprehended on campus by the authorities.
He has been accused of engaging in sexual abuse with a 14-year-old girl. It is alleged that the instructor utilized social media apps to send explicit photos to the teenager.
The Ottawa County District Attorney’s office announced on Wednesday that they are currently reviewing investigative reports, although no charges have been filed at this time.
An arrest affidavit reveals that the teenager participated in theater and fine arts activities at NEO in Miami.
During a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Ottawa County in Miami, the teenager provided detailed accounts to investigators about the instances of sexual abuse they experienced with Smith. According to the affidavit, the teenager revealed that she was requested to send explicit photos of herself to Smith, while he allegedly shared nude pictures of himself with her.
Authorities became aware of the reported inappropriate contact between Smith and the teenager following the teenager’s hospitalization at a Tulsa hospital earlier this month due to an overdose of 25 muscle relaxers, according to the affidavit.
According to investigators, the teenager and Smith were engaged in a phone conversation when the teenager consumed the pills and subsequently lost consciousness. According to the affidavit, Smith reportedly remained on the phone until the teenager fell asleep, even being able to hear her snoring.
According to the affidavit, Smith made multiple calls to the hospital while she was hospitalized, inquiring about the procedures performed on the teenager’s stomach and the substances found in her system.
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The former theatre instructor reported to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware County Children’s Special Advocacy Network, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Ottawa County about an alleged incident involving a 14-year-old boy and the teen. The teen’s mother refuted any allegations of sexual assault by a teenage boy, according to the affidavit.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, college officials announced the termination of Smith’s employment.
“Today, we took decisive action to terminate a college employee after information surfaced following a preliminary investigation concerning an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor,” the statement stated.
“We have strict zero-tolerance for misconduct of this nature, particularly those involving minors. Such behavior is inexcusable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our campus community. The college is cooperating fully with law enforcement as their investigation continues.”