Liberty Coach Suspended After Arrest For Sexting, Lewd Molestation

A Liberty High School coach and teacher has been suspended after his arrest Thursday for inappropriate behavior with a 15-year-old.

Earl Stanley Tennial, 29, was booked into the Tulsa County Jail on one count of lewd proposal to a minor child and one county of lewd molestation, under age 16.

Tulsa County Sheriff's Office was notified by Liberty Superintendent Donna Campo that teacher and football coach Earl Stanley Tennial sent lewd text messages to a female high school student.

"We take student safety very seriously - it's one of our top priorities," said Liberty Superintendent Donna Campo.

"When we learned of the allegations of inappropriate contact, the district immediately launched an investigation and notified law enforcement."

Detective Gregory Brown interviewed Tennial on December 14. The coach said he got the first text message from the 15-year-old girl on or about December 5. At first the messages were casual, Tennial reportedly told law enforcement, but at some point the messaging became sexual.

"We would talk about possibly skipping class or meeting after a wrestling tournament and doing sexual activities," Tennial told Brown, according to an arrest and booking report.

TCSO records state the student agreed she initiated the contact and that the coach told her he thought she was beautiful and he liked her smile. During a forensic interview, the minor told officers Tennial at one point said, "I'll do you on my desk."

During one occasion, the girl reportedly told law officers, she and Tennial were alone in his office. She said they began "making out" or kissing for two to three minutes. During that time, Tennial placed his hand inside her shirt and fondled her breast on the outside of her bra, the report states.

Tennial was a standout football player and wrestler for the Glenpool Warriors. He graduated in 2001. Younger brother Courtney Tennial, who also coaches at Liberty Mounds, played for the school on its state championship team and went on to play football at OU and TU.

Earl Tennial is suspended with pay pending a due process hearing scheduled for January 14, 2013, according to the Liberty superintendent.

"The board will consider a vote on whether to terminate Mr. Tennial," Campo said, adding that she could not comment further on the ongoing criminal case.

He was released on a $75,000 bond.