Covington Teacher's Aide Charged With Sex Crimes, Providing Alcohol To A Minor

A Covington teacher's aide has been charged Wednesday afternoon for sex crimes and providing alcohol to a minor, according to officials. 

The Enid News and Eagle reported that 41-year-old Jeri Ann Griffin was charged after a student told police that she had supplied him with beer and had sex with him multiple times. 

Griffin is a teacher's assistant for Covington-Douglas Public Schools. 

Griffin has been charged with felony counts of second-degree rape, sodomy, and making lewd or indecent proposals to a child under 16, as well as a misdemeanor account of supplying alcohol to a minor. She will face one to 15 years in prison for the rape charge, up to 10 years in prison for the sodomy charge, and three to 20 years on the indecent proposals charges. She will also face up to six months in prison and fine of up to $500 for the misdemeanor. 

The teen told police he has been at Griffin's house with her husband,helping them move when he was given alcohol. The teen said he drank 10 to 15 beers that night, along with a 15-year-old freshman. 

According to court documents, the teen said Griffin had been flirting with him over Snapchat the same evening. The teen told authorities, that after having a conversation with Griffin through Snapchat, he met her at the other home and the two had sex. The Enid News and Eagle reported that Griffin asked the teen not to tell her husband, but mentioned that they should do it again. 

The teen officials that there were several other occasions where Griffin performed oral sex on him and they had also made out in a closet. He also said that he had drank at the couples house between seven and ten times. 

Another 15-year-old boy who spoke with police said he was invited to drink at the couple's house and the Griffin tried to kiss him. However, he said he told her to stop. 

Griffin messaged the 15-year-old on Snapchat, asking if they could hang out again. When he told Griffin he had a girlfriend, Griffin said his girlfriend could share him, and that she didn't have to know, the Enid News and Eagle reported.  

The 15-year-old told police that he stopped hanging out with Griffin because she mad him uncomfortable. 

Griffin initially denied the allegations when police questioned her. She later admitted to giving the teens alcohol and having sex with the 18-year-old before school let out for the summer, according to court documents. She said that when things slowed down with the 18-year-old she began flirting with 15-year-old. 

According to the Enid News and Eagle, Griffin is free on $30,000 bond, with the condition that she does not have contact with either boy. 

News 9 reached out to Convington-Douglas Public Schools, and the responded with the following statement: 

While an initial report of alcohol being provided to students by a paraprofessional at an off campus party was being investigated, Covington-Douglas Public Schools superintendent was informed on Tuesday, June 5th at 10:15 pm, that the same paraprofessional, participated in inappropriate behavior with a male students at a location off campus. 

Following the notification and over the next few hours, the superintendent communicated with the parent of the student and confirmed the incident. Early on Wednesday morning, the superintendent notified the Garfield County Sheriff. 

The paraprofessional, Jeri Ann Griffin, CDPS employee works as a paraprofessional in the Pre-K program and the 2nd grade classroom. She has been employed with CDPS for approximately two and a half years and she was considered to be a good employee. 

"We are truly shocked and devastated to find out that one of our employees has apparently taken advantage of some of out students," said Darren Sharp, Superintendent of Covington-Douglas Public Schools. "Our district prides itself on professionalism and making sure the safety of our students is our number one priority," said Sharp. "We will continue to work and support our law enforcement partners in seeking justice" noted Sharp. "We will also be evaluating our processes to make sure that we did not miss something that would have given us even a hint this was possible."