Lexington PS Basketball Coach Faces 5 Felony Counts: Former Byng HS & ECU Star Joins Harmful Coaches Club
Lexington PS Basketball Coach Faces 5 Felony Counts: Former Byng HS & ECU Star Joins Harmful Coaches Club
Vernon "Tyler" Thetford Charged with Sexting & Solicitation of Child Under 16
On Wednesday (April 24, 2024), five felony counts were filed against Vernon “Tyler” Thetford (40), teacher and boys high school basketball coach at Lexington Public Schools, in Lexington, Oklahoma.
The charges include two counts of lewd acts, two counts of lewd or indecent proposals to a child under 16, and one count of soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology.
According to court filings, all charges stem from incidents that occurred between August 1, 2023, and January 5, 2024, in which Thetford did “willfully and wrongfully cause or expose (child) to look upon the body or private parts of the defendant” by both sending her “a video of him masturbating” and “naked photographs of himself”. The filing further describes lewd proposals made to a “child under 16” by “telling her he wanted to engage in sexual acts with her accompanied by a picture of his penis” and “sending her messages regarding proposed sexual activity”. Thetford’s solicitation charge involves the “use of technology by asking (child) to send photos of herself to him”.
Back in January of 2024, Lexington PS superintendent Chad Hall posted the following to Facebook concerning the initial investigation and reporting of the crimes to law enforcement:
Thetford was previously a prominent basketball player at both Byng HS (class of 2002) and East Central University. According to Thetford’s online resume, he worked in sales and then market development for the Cintas corporation before becoming a public school teacher and coach at age 36.
Thetford was a math/computer teacher and coach at Wanette PS during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years before becoming the head boys basketball coach at Lexington PS beginning in 2022.
Thetford holds current certifications to teach math and PE through the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). His certifications are valid through June of 2025.
This case, like so many other recent reports of child sexual abuse and solicitation within Oklahoma’s public schools, underscores the need for HB 3958. The measure, which was proposed by Rep. Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle), significantly limits digital communication between students and school teachers, coaches and other staff unless a parent/guardian is involved. As of today, HB 3958 has been overwhelmingly passed by both chambers of the state legislature.
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