Guthrie Public Schools Coach Arrested For Sexual Relationship With Student

A Guthrie High school assistant basketball coach is arrested, accused of having sex with a 15-year-old female student.

Logan County Deputies were called to the school Friday morning and the coach was escorted off campus.

The Logan County Sheriff's Office told News 9 this all came to light when a couple of students got wind of a relationship between 24-year-old Byron McDonald and the 15-year-old.

News 9 was told McDonald had sex with the teenager at least once inside her home.

9/4/15 Related Story: Guthrie HS Paraprofessional Arrested For Sexual Relationship With Student

“Sex once, it don’t matter,” said Jessica Cranmore. “That’s one too many.”

Jessica Cranmore who has a 14-year-old daughter at Guthrie High School is outraged.

“It makes me mad, I mean truly mad,” said Cranmore.

“I see him around like in the hallways and at assembly’s and stuff,” said Cranmore’s daughter, Nova. “He just seems normal. He seems like any other teacher really.”

A school resource officer who is also a sheriff's deputy was told about the incident and notified district administrators last night.

“Through the course of our investigation, preliminary investigation, we determined that we did have probable cause to arrest,” said Det. Greg Valencia.

Detective Valencia says this relationship had gone on for months on social media with the conversations turning sexual.

“There was at least one incident where this gentleman went into the student’s home and did have intercourse in her home,” said Valencia.

According to court documents, during McDonald’s interview at the sheriff's office, he admitted going to the student's home three times.

He tells investigators it was on the third trip he and the 15-year-old had sex.

Guthrie Schools Superintendent, Dr. Mike Simpson tells us in a statement:

“Guthrie Public Schools administration was notified late last night about an inappropriate relationship between Guthrie High School paraprofessional Byron “B.J.” McDonald and a high school student. We immediately notified law enforcement and are cooperating fully with the investigation.

Following a background check, Mr. McDonald began employment with the district on August 14, 2015. He worked as a Paraprofessional in the In-School Suspension Program at Guthrie High School and as an Assistant Boys Basketball Coach. McDonald volunteered the previous school year as an Assistant Basketball Coach. Mr. McDonald was terminated today, September 4, 2015.

Guthrie Public Schools is committed to the safety and security of all students. We want to assure parents that we do not tolerate this behavior and stand committed to support in the prosecution of anyone engaged in inappropriate behavior with our students.”

“I hear it at all the other schools, but I didn’t expect it to be here,” said Cranmore.

McDonald has now been fired by Guthrie Schools. He faces three criminal complaints including first degree rape.