Twice-Convicted Sex Offender's Ties To Piedmont Public Schools Investigated By OSDE

A metro couple warned the Piedmont Public School District about a now twice-convicted sex offender's connection to the schools. The man was caught on camera in 2022 exposing himself to the couple's teenage daughter while he was driving. 

The couple has also taken their concerns about John Dougherty, 34, to the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Officials at OSDE confirmed to News 9 on Wednesday they were investigating.

An Oklahoma County judge handed down a 12-year sentence to Dougherty last week. Dougherty will serve four years in prison and eight years on probation.

“We were pretty shocked he got the sentence that he did,” said victim’s father. “But at the same time, we felt like justice was served.”

Dougherty was arrested in 2022 after exposing himself to the teenager in the middle of traffic and following her. She recorded the incident thinking no one would believe her.

“It was emotionally jarring for sure,” said victim’s father.

The couple notified the principal at Northwood Elementary and Piedmont Public School District officials after the incident, knowing Dougherty's wife was a teacher at Northwood Elementary. However, it was not until after Dougherty’s recent conviction the district sent an email to parents on Monday.

“The district has now admitted in an email that Mr. Dougherty was present during Mrs. Dougherty’s Teacher of the Year ceremony,” said victim’s father.

The ceremony was held in 2021 and district officials noted in the message that staff did not commit a crime or break district policy by allowing Dougherty in the school. At the time Dougherty was a registered sex offender for a 2013 conviction.

Even though Dougherty is going to prison, the victim’s parents are concerned his wife knowingly exposed children to a sex offender and what the future could hold.

“He will be out someday, and everyone should know who she is and who he is just to be aware,” said victim’s mother. “To be aware of the situation.”

Piedmont Public School officials said the district now use SafeID kiosks. The system scans an ID for anyone attempting to enter a school and alerts office staff if someone is a registered sex offender. District officials said if the system was in place in 2021, it would have prevented Dougherty from entering the school.