Mustang teacher arrested for rape

Longtime high school teacher accused of inappropriate sexual relationship with former student

By Jacob Sturm

news@mustangpaper.com

A long-time Mustang High School teacher has been arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a former student.

Raymond Thomas Garner, a 33-year employee at Mustang High School, is facing charges for multiple counts of first-degree rape of a former student, making lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child and forcible sodomy.

Mustang Police Chief Rob Groseclose along with Mustang Superintendent Charles Bradley and OSBI public information officer Brook Arbeitman provided updates on the situation Wednesday afternoon.

Groseclose said the department opened an investigation on Jan. 27 after schools resource officers received a report about a teacher allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Mustang Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division spoke with the reported victim, and police said she provided details about numerous inappropriate sex acts with her former high school science teacher. The victim also provided physical evidence further linking Garner to the crime.

 Garner was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Mustang City Jail.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations assisted in the investigation which included multiple jurisdictions.

Groseclose encouraged any potential victims to contact authorities and said the investigation is ongoing.

“I’d also like to ask that anyone who had any inappropriate communications or contact with Mr. Garner while he was a teacher at Mustang High School should contact the OSBI at 1-800-522-8017 or email tips@osbi.ok.gov,” Groseclose said.

Bradley said the school district will work quickly to internally investigate as well.

“We are shocked and saddened and outraged at the allegations levied against one of our longtime employees today,” Bradley said. “We will continue to cooperate fully with our law enforcement partners during their investigation and will work quickly on our internal investigation as well. At this time, the employee has been suspended. As this is a personnel issue, and an active investigation, our release of further information may be limited. We are proud of and thankful for our law enforcement partners who have worked so efficiently from the first tip to today and we echo the sentiment that everyone with additional information should contact the OSBI tip line.”

Bradley said counselors will be available for any staff or students who may need to speak with someone. Bradley said they will support the Bronco family as the situation is unpacked.