Former Durant Middle School teacher sentenced to 25 years for child sex abuse

DURANT, OKLA (KTUL) — A former teacher and coach at Durant Middle School was sentenced to 25 years in prison for coercion and enticement, sexual exploitation of a child and sexual abuse of a minor.

In 2022, 25-year-old Ryan John Capps enticed an underage student to produce child sexual abuse material and engage in sexual activity while working at Durant Middle School.

Capps was found guilty of all charges on May 1, 2024.

“The defendant violated the trust placed in him as a teacher to exploit the victim for his own prurient interests,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The jury’s verdict and the sentences imposed by the Court send a resounding message that those who commit these deplorable acts will be subject to the justice system and severely punished.”

The sentence will be served concurrently for one count of coercion and enticement for 300 months, 300 months for one count of sexual exploitation of a child/use of a child to create a visual image, and 180 months for one count of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country.

If you have information about child sexual exploitation, file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL -FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.