Tulsa Public Schools: Skelly Administrator Had Been Investigated 3 Times

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- More details are coming out about the allegations against Robert Yerton, the assistant principal at Tulsa's Skelly Elementary.

Yerton arrested on a complaint of molestation, involving a 6-year-old male student.

He is on paid suspension from the school district, which is now in the process of firing him.

According to court records, the counselor at Yerton's school complained about the way he touched male students, in particular one boy.

Tulsa Public Schools confirmed Thursday that only after the third complaint was Yerton suspended and only then because Tulsa Police showed up at the school with a search warrant.

Read the TPS Investigative Timeline

While the criminal investigation of Robert Yerton is just beginning, Tulsa Public Schools is on their third investigation of Yerton and twice before has taken action against him without firing him.

The Skelly Elementary assistant principal has a long history with Tulsa Public Schools, but the district says the complaints about him only started in October of last year.

The district says a female coworker of Yerton's complained about "inappropriate touching of male students....rubbing and hugging on the outside of their clothes."

The result of their five-day investigation was the decision there was no criminal conduct or child abuse.

The district says there was no report made to the Department of Human Services, but that Yerton was given "appropriate disposition," a punishment that can be as little as a verbal reprimand.

The same co-worker complained about Yerton again on February 23, 2010. This time she gave administrators typed statements, supposedly from other co-workers, reporting a new allegation.

After an investigation by district administrators, and campus police again Yerton was given what the district says was the "appropriate disposition."

The latest school investigation started April 14th, when the same coworker repeated the same allegations. While that investigation was underway, Tulsa Police served a search warrant at Skelly Elementary, prompting the district to suspend him.

On Thursday, the district started the process of firing Yerton.

Tulsa Public Schools has a policy requiring staff to report child abuse but a spokesperson said they defer to state law and common sense on the guidelines for staff interaction with children.

Read TPS Policy On Reporting Child Abuse

Yerton remains in jail, with a bond hearing set for Tuesday.

5/6/2010 Related Story: Termination Process Begins For Tulsa Administrator Charged With Molestation

5/6/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Police Release Timeline of Tulsa Administrator's Career History