Teacher's Aide Accused of Sexually Assaulting Nonverbal Teen at Oklahoma School

The mother of a nonverbal teen says she hopes a teacher's aide will never be allowed back in the classroom.

In a civil lawsuit, she accuses the aide of sexually assaulting her child while at school.

In the spring of 2022, Tri-County Interlocal Coop in South Oklahoma called Stephanie King after her daughter had just been dropped off at school. They wanted both to come back to school.

"I got there, and they proceeded to tell me everything that had happened," said King.

According to court documents, Logan Skylar Smith, a teacher's aide, "followed S.R. (Stephanie's daughter) into a school cleaning closet, shut the door behind him and sexually molested S.R. by touching her inappropriately."

Another school employee found the two.

"I thought I was sending her somewhere where she could get everything she needed," said King.

Tri-County Coop is a school for students with disabilities. Stephanie's daughter was 16 at the time of the incident but is mentally at the age of 8 and nonverbal.

"She knew certain things were wrong, but I don't know it changed her," said King.

Stephanie initially filed a criminal lawsuit. Smith, the aide, was arrested and charged, but Stephanie's daughter is unable to describe what Smith did to her.

During the preliminary hearing for the criminal case, the judge said there was not enough evidence a crime was committed so the case was dismissed.

Melissa Handke, the Carter County District Attorney, appealed the ruling. 

Another judge from another district came in and upheld that ruling. 

Now, the family is going through depositions for this new case.

According to the incident report from Healdton Police, Smith admitted if the adult had not walked in while Smith was assaulting Stephanie's daughter, he would've continued.

Smith admits to shutting the door behind him and "did not want the fun to end."

The teenager is now at a new school, an hour round-trip from her home daily.

News 9 also contacted the schools and Smiths' attorneys. It has yet to hear back.