TPS Administrator Charged With Sexual Abuse

FOX23 News was the first to learn that Yerton was being investigated after allegations of molestation surfaced and the only media outlet to speak with one of the alleged victim’s family.

Robert Yerton Jr. is accused of inappropriately touching a six-year-old boy at Skelly Elementary. The Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force and Tulsa Police officers arrested Yerton at his home Wednesday evening.

Records show in October 2009, the Skelly principal was made aware of one incident involving suspected molestation to the six-year-old by Mr. Yerton.

FO23’s Abbie Alford spoke to an alleged victim's parents tonight about Yerton’s arrest.

Robert Yerton has spent 17-years with Tulsa Public Schools and is now in the Tulsa County Jail.

On his Facebook account Yerton posted he has been involved in Boy Scouts, various Christian camps for children and vacation bible school.

Records show Yerton is accused of touching a six-year-old boy’s private parts in his school office. A child with a learning disability.

"We feel outraged we really do but we are doing this the right way and we want justice and that is what we are getting now," says the alleged victim’s father.

To protect the alleged victim FOX23 News will not release the parents identity.

In an exclusive interview, the father told FOX23 News he believes it wasn’t until a month after his son was suspected of being inappropriately touched did he learn of the alleged abuse.

The father says another employee at Skelly reported the touching to them.

However, records show in October 2009 that employee wrote the Skelly principal about her concerns and said she believed Mr. Yerton inappropriately touched the six-year-old boy in his office.

The alleged victim’s parents say it wasn’t until April when an employee told them about the alleged abuse and they confronted the area school superintendent.

The parents say that administrator already knew about the allegations.

"We still don't even know how long it was going on because he has been in trouble all year and he was sent to this man all year," says the alleged victim’s mother.

"They are supposed to be safe and protected at the public schools. When something like that is reported you are not supposed to sweep it under the rug. You are supposed to do something about it," says the alleged victim’s father.

Since the family came forward police say a teen told them Yerton touched him on multiple occasions at Yerton’s home when he was underage.

Now two families wait for more answers.

"It's been real tough, been real tough but this is just the beginning but we have to tough it out," says the alleged victim’s father. 

Tulsa police say a timeline of events regarding the alleged abuse, Yerton’s work history and involvement in social organizations will be released.

The District Attorney is encouraging anyone with information about Mr. Yerton to report it to the Tulsa Police Child Crisis Unit at (918) 669-6504 or call Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-COPS.

Yerton is being held in the Tulsa County Jail on $150,000 bond. 

TPS released the following statement:

For immediate release, May 5, 2010: Tulsa Public Schools is deeply disturbed by the charges filed against one of the district's elementary school administrators. The district will do whatever is required to assist the Tulsa County District Attorney in resolving the case.

Robert Yerton has been with the district since 1993 and no one has ever reported him engaging in criminal activity of any sort. He was suspended on April 27 after TPS received a warrant to search his office and computer for evidence of lewd acts with a child. This was the first time administrators had ever heard anything that would indicate Yerton was accused of criminal abuse of a child.

Tulsa Public Schools is committed to delivering quality learning experiences to each and every student in a safe, secure and healthy environment. The district maintains an unwavering expectation that every employee conduct himself or herself in a manner that honors education and children. Tulsa Public Schools has and will continue to assist law enforcement in this and every case that impacts our students. We appreciate Tulsa Police detectives' diligence and thoroughness in investigating these criminal allegations. The additional information provided through the TPD investigation will be vital in the district's ongoing personnel investigation.

Skelly and TPS administrators are expected to follow the law and board policy in handling complaints against staff members. Such has been the case in handling any concerns expressed about Robert Yerton.  

Police records show on April 23^rd a TPS area superintendent sent a packet of e-mails detailing allegations to a Tulsa Police investigator, however the school district says they were not aware of the allegations until last week.

" I still can't believe that the superintendent told us that this man was too affectionate with kids and then gave him a verbal warning now he is locked up and he's been charged with child molestation so what's affectionate about that?" says the alleged vicitm’s father.

Records also show police interviewed a potential victim who was in Yerton’s fourth-grade class at Disney Elementary in 1996.

He had similar complaints but the statute of limitation has run out so that person will not be considered a victim.

UPDATE