First witness takes the stand in ex-assistant principal molestion and child sex abuse case

TULSA - The first witness took the stand Wednesday in the trial of Robert Yerton Jr., a former assistant principal for Tulsa Public Schools.

Yerton is charged with molestation and child sex abuse is accused of sexually abusing several boys over an eight-year period.

The 20-year-old witness and family member of Yerton told state prosecutor Sarah McAmis that Yerton abused him since he was a 11 years old and that the abuse started when the former assistant principal was fitting him for an athletic cup.

He then stated that after the incident Yerton began to rub his private parts and watch him in the shower.

The witness said at the age of 17 he left home to go live with his grandmother and left behind the memories of the incidents. He told no one about the alleged abuse.

When police began to get involved in Yerton's case, the witness denied all accounts of abuse twice by telling detectives that he was never molested.

The witness only came forward when he saw Yerton's case on the local news.

Yerton's lawyer Richard O'Carroll told a different account about the alleged abuse of the victim.

He said Yerton only watched the boy in the shower because he thought he was on drugs.

After the family member, there were four more witnesses who took the stand. Two of those, former co-workers of Yerton who claimed he paid special attention to boys. They also claim he inappropriately rubbed young boys legs and backs.

Between the state and defense attorney, there are at least 100 possible witnesses. The state will continue witness questioning and then the defense will have the chance to cross examine.

The former Skelly Elementary assistant principal is facing five felony charges, including three counts of lewd molestation and two counts of sexually abusing a child.

2NEWS reporter Liz Bryant is in the courtroom. Stay with KJRH.com for updates throughout the case.