Oklahoma School For The Deaf Coach Charged With Rape, Child Pornography Crimes

Oklahoma School For The Deaf Coach Charged With Rape, Child Pornography Crimes

A former Oklahoma School for the Deaf football coach and teacher is facing multiple felony charges after investigators accused him of carrying on a years-long sexual relationship with a deaf student enrolled at the state-operated school.

An arrest warrant was issued Aug. 7 for Sean Thomas Sledd, 29, charging him with two counts of second-degree rape and two counts of possession or promotion of child pornography. Investigators allege the relationship began in 2021 and continued until the student graduated from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf in Sulphur. An arrest is an allegation, not a conviction. Sledd is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Oklahoma School For The Deaf Investigation Centers On Former Coach

Investigators allege Sledd developed an inappropriate relationship with a student while serving as a teacher and head football coach at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, one of Oklahoma's specialized public schools serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Court records allege the student visited Sledd's home several times each week and told investigators she was pressured into sexual acts. Detectives also allege Sledd recorded some of the encounters, resulting in the child pornography charges.

The criminal case has been filed through the Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN), where future court filings and hearing dates will be posted as the prosecution moves forward.

Before the allegations surfaced, Sledd had received national recognition after being named the National Deaf Interscholastic Athletic Association Division II Coach of the Year in 2024.

State Officials Removed Coach From Campus

The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, which operates the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, removed Sledd from campus immediately after learning of the investigation.

Agency spokesman Mark Beutler said protecting students remains the department's highest priority.

"We want parents and the public alike to know the safety of our students is our top priority. For that reason, when we learned of the investigation, we removed Mr. Sledd from the campus. He is no longer employed by OSD."

The department confirmed Sledd is no longer employed by the school in a statement published by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

Investigation Continues As Detectives Seek Additional Information

Authorities say the investigation remains active as detectives determine whether anyone else may have known about the alleged abuse before it was reported.

Investigators are also examining reports that another employee witnessed physical contact between Sledd and the student but that the relationship was never formally reported to law enforcement. Detectives believe additional witnesses or potential victims could come forward now that the charges have become public.

Initial reporting on the investigation was published by KFOR News 4, while the criminal case continues through the Oklahoma court system.

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