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April 18, 2008

Coach to be arraigned on rape charges

By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — A Tahlequah High School teacher and coach is expected to be arraigned today on second-degree rape charges.

Christopher Massey, 27, was charged Thursday morning with the felony offense. He is expected to turn himself in today, and a hearing date will be set.

Massey allegedly committed the offense Feb. 21, 2007, while he was employed by the Tahlequah I-35 School District. Prosecutors say he had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student enrolled in the local school system.

Tahlequah police investigated the incident and presented a report to the district attorney’s office. The girl told TPD Detective Lt. Dale Glory she had sexual intercourse with Massey on three occasions.

Second-degree rape is punishable by imprisonment for one to 15 years. Glory and TPD Detective Jeff Haney are listed as state witnesses, along with the girl, TPS Superintendent Paul Hurst and Denver Spears. Assistant District Attorney Greg Combs is prosecuting the case.

Massey is the second TPS employee in a month to be charged with second-degree rape after an alleged sexual encounter with a female student.

Jermell Montrice Combs, also 27, is charged with second-degree rape after initially being charged with first-degree rape for having sex with a 16-year-old girl.

That girl said she reported the incident because she feared she may have become pregnant. The first-degree rape count was amended last week to second-degree rape.

Jermell Combs faces a May 5 court appearance.

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