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SHAWNEE, Okla. —
A former McLoud teacher at the center of an ongoing child pornography investigation for taking pictures of her third grade students was charged with 23 felony counts Thursday morning and the man her students referred to as “Uncle G,” a college professor, was arrested in Pennsylvania.
District Attorney Richard Smothermon filed charges against Kimberly Crain, 48, of Shawnee, who appeared in Pottawatomie County District Court. Listed as the co-defendant in the charges is Gary Joseph Doby, 65, of Bloomsburg, Pa., with an alias name of “Uncle G.”
Police working the investigation have confirmed that pictures and videos of Crain’s students were taken with hidden cameras in her classroom at the school and at two different parties held at Crain’s Shawnee home.
Doby, who prosecutors said was as an early childhood development professor in Bloomburg, Pa., is a former Oklahoma Baptist University professor who taught there 25 years ago, where he and Crain met.
As Crain was in court wearing handcuffs and jail stripes, Doby was being arrested at his home by Pennsylvania State Police, so Smothermon said the two perpetrators responsible for these “egregious acts” are now in custody.
Doby is jailed in Pennsylvania on a $1 million bond, but Smothermon said he plans to bring Doby back to Oklahoma.
“If you perpetrate Oklahoma victims, you’ll face an Oklahoma jury,” Smothermon said, adding they’re working to extradite him as quickly as possible.
Crain, who has been jailed in Lincoln County since her arrest on Dec. 1, remains on a $1 million bond.
Of the felony counts, Crain is charged with all 23, while the first nine counts apply to Doby.
Counts one through eight are manufacturing of child pornography charges, in which both are accused of manufacturing photographs or videos of females under age 18. Count nine involves the conspiracy to manufacture juvenile pornography.
Crain is also charged in counts 10 through 23, which includes 10 counts of lewd molestation, two counts of possession of juvenile pornography as well as a charge of aggravated possession of juvenile pornography. In that count, Crain is accused of having more than 100 images of child pornography on her laptop computer.
For the lewd molestation counts, Crain is accused of forcing the children to undress and expose themselves, in some cases behind a sheet that was set up in her classroom, while the children were secretly being photographed. In other cases she is accused of photographing children wearing bras and panties and having them pose and dance.
A former McLoud teacher at the center of an ongoing child pornography investigation for taking pictures of her third grade students was charged with 23 felony counts Thursday morning and the man her students referred to as “Uncle G,” a college professor, was arrested in Pennsylvania.
District Attorney Richard Smothermon filed charges against Kimberly Crain, 48, of Shawnee, who appeared in Pottawatomie County District Court. Listed as the co-defendant in the charges is Gary Joseph Doby, 65, of Bloomsburg, Pa., with an alias name of “Uncle G.”
Police working the investigation have confirmed that pictures and videos of Crain’s students were taken with hidden cameras in her classroom at the school and at two different parties held at Crain’s Shawnee home.
Doby, who prosecutors said was as an early childhood development professor in Bloomburg, Pa., is a former Oklahoma Baptist University professor who taught there 25 years ago, where he and Crain met.
As Crain was in court wearing handcuffs and jail stripes, Doby was being arrested at his home by Pennsylvania State Police, so Smothermon said the two perpetrators responsible for these “egregious acts” are now in custody.
Doby is jailed in Pennsylvania on a $1 million bond, but Smothermon said he plans to bring Doby back to Oklahoma.
“If you perpetrate Oklahoma victims, you’ll face an Oklahoma jury,” Smothermon said, adding they’re working to extradite him as quickly as possible.
Crain, who has been jailed in Lincoln County since her arrest on Dec. 1, remains on a $1 million bond.
Of the felony counts, Crain is charged with all 23, while the first nine counts apply to Doby.
Counts one through eight are manufacturing of child pornography charges, in which both are accused of manufacturing photographs or videos of females under age 18. Count nine involves the conspiracy to manufacture juvenile pornography.
Crain is also charged in counts 10 through 23, which includes 10 counts of lewd molestation, two counts of possession of juvenile pornography as well as a charge of aggravated possession of juvenile pornography. In that count, Crain is accused of having more than 100 images of child pornography on her laptop computer.
For the lewd molestation counts, Crain is accused of forcing the children to undress and expose themselves, in some cases behind a sheet that was set up in her classroom, while the children were secretly being photographed. In other cases she is accused of photographing children wearing bras and panties and having them pose and dance.
She also is charged with distribution of child pornography, accused of sending photos and/or videos of minors to Doby by use of e-mail and/or Skype.
Crain resigned Nov. 28 amid the ongoing investigation by McLoud and Shawnee police, along with the FBI. The probe began in mid-November with reports that several of Crain’s female students attended a Christmas tree decorating and pizza party at her Shawnee home, where she allegedly had the students change into bra and panties.
As a result of those complaints, an extensive probe began, with reports that Crain was having her students, while at school, use Skype through the Internet to talk with a man they knew as “Uncle G.”
When police retrieved deleted images from Crain’s cell phone that confirmed the Christmas party allegations, she was arrested and police focused on finding “Uncle G.” Through examination of digital forensic evidence, police linked Crain to Doby.
Police also found hidden cameras in a bedroom where the five female students, ranging in age from 7 to 9, changed clothes in the teacher’s home during the party. Police also have learned of another party occurring in August at Crain’s home, where photographs of children wearing bras and panties and posing with dolls were taken.
The case includes information that a “garbage bag” tent was set up in Crain’s classroom at the school, where videos were allegedly taken of children changing clothes behind that tent, McLoud Chief Gary Roe said.
Smothermon said at least 14 juvenile victims have been identified in this ongoing investigation, with federal charges also expected. Smothermon, along with Shawnee Police Detective Ethan Rieves and Roe, spoke about the case Thursday.
Rieves said Doby was a professor at OBU from 1985 to 1987, and during that time, Crain was a student studying toward her education degree. While she wasn’t a student in his classes, he reportedly served as her advisor, Rieves said.
According to Doby’s arrest warrant, Crain and Doby were linked by items on her computers, such as sexual chats they were having about their relationship, with Doby telling Crain what type of pictures he liked of specific students.
Since many of the photos and videos were taken in Crain’s classroom, for McLoud police, working a case like this has been both difficult and unimaginable.
“It’s been traumatic for the entire city, the school, for the parents — a very traumatic situation,” Roe said. “We live in a different world nowadays. Parents should always be vigilant and should talk to their children about things that are not appropriate..I hope that’s the lesson learned out of this.”
Authorities are still working to interview victims and expect there are more out there, Smothermon said.
Incidents for which charges were filed occurred over the past 15 months, Smothermon said, and investigators believe that Crain and Doby were the only ones involved.
A civil case also is pending regarding this matter. That suit was filed against Crain by eight families being represented by Attorney Joe Vorndran. Vorndran, speaking on behalf of his clients, said their anger remained and was exasperated with Thursday’s charges as they learned more details.
Vorndran, who represents four of the five girls who were at the party at Crain’s home, said they also are conducting their own investigation. He said there was no permission slips for that event and that parents were asked if the students could stay after school for the party, so the parents thought their kids were at school.
Crain has retained Cregg Webb as her attorney, but he had no comments regarding the case or charges Thursday.
Crain’s next court appearance is scheduled in January.
Watch for updates.
