Harrah coach accused of lewd acts with teen
HARRAH — A coach at Harrah High School was arrested Thursday, accused of an indecent or lewd act with a Harrah student.
On Thursday, the mother of the 16-year-old student contacted the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office about inappropriate comments Charles Copeland, 3 7 , ha d posted about her daughter over the past few months. The woman said she began monitoring her daughter's cell phone and found numerous messages between her daughter and Copeland, who coaches baseball at Harrah High School and is also listed as a math teacher.
An Oklahoma County deputy went through the text messages, which reportedly included comments from Copeland such as, “Today did you think about us `doing it' at all?” The teenager reportedly sent Copeland a text message back, saying, “yes I did right after we kissed a couple of times definitely," according to a court affidavit.
Other texts from Copeland were more sexually explicit.
Paul Blessington, superintendent with Harrah Public Schools, said the situation surrounding Copeland is unfortunate, adding that Copeland has been an “outstanding” coach and teacher in the six years he's been with the school district.
Blessington said he could not comment on any personnel issues related to Copeland but said the coach has been placed on administrative leave, as would anyone in the school district facing accusations or an investigation.
Blessington said the district has launched its own investigation independent from the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office.
Copeland just completed his sixth season as Harrah's baseball coach.
This spring, he led the Panthers to a 33-5 record and the Class 4A baseball state championship game for the first time since 1976. Harrah lost to Blanchard, 14-5.
Copeland was also selected to coach in the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association All-State games on June 2 in Enid.
Copeland was being held at the Oklahoma County jail Thursday afternoon in lieu of $50,000 bail on a complaint of indecent or lewd acts with a child under 16, jail records show.