Ex-superintendent charged with sex crimes accused of violating terms of release

NEWKIRK — The Kay County district attorney’s office is seeking to revoke the bail of a former longtime Oklahoma superintendent for allegedly violating the conditions of his release by shopping at a local Walmart.

Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke Gary Young's bail Tuesday in Kay County District Court. The ex-Peckham Public School superintendent was charged Dec. 18 with six felonies related to his alleged sexual abuse of children under the age of 16 and at least one school district employee.

Young's bail was set at $50,000, and he was placed under house arrest. By court order, he also was required to wear an ankle monitor operated by Alternative Sentencing Solutions of Oklahoma.

Under the terms of his release, Young, 65, was not permitted to leave his house unless he was attending a religious service, a medical appointment or a meeting with his Oklahoma City attorney. Additionally, Young agreed as part of his arrangement with the court not to have contact with any of his alleged victims.

"There is information that the Defendant has violated said condition of his bond on Dec. 22, 2019, and Jan. 6, 2020, by going to the Blackwell, Oklahoma, Walmart," Assistant District Attorney Tom C. Lane wrote in the motion. "In addition to being in a location that he is not to be, one of his juvenile victims works at the Walmart and it is known by the Defendant that this juvenile victim works at this Walmart."

Reached Thursday, Young's attorney, Mack Martin, said electronic monitoring data does not support the allegations.

"The electronic data is going to verify that he was at home," Martin said. "Some people said they saw him there but they are mistaken. There are people that have it out for (my client)."

Martin said Young's brother was at the same Walmart on the same days and that the siblings share a credit card, which may have been used to make a purchase.

A hearing on the matter is set for Feb. 13.

Oklahoma City attorney Cameron Spradling, who represents the Walmart worker accusing Young of sexual misconduct, said she was working at the store Dec. 22.

"We feel that he was there to intimidate her," Spradling said.

The Major Crime Unit of the district attorney’s office obtained the store’s security camera footage, which will be used as evidence in the case. MCU officer Ron Teel interviewed witnesses who claim to have seen Young there.

Hermanson has requested an immediate hearing to revoke Young’s bail, and asked the court to place Young in custody with a new bail, according to courtrecords.

Young is charged with three counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16, two counts of causing, procuring, or permitting injury to a child under 16, and one count of blackmail.

In August, Young was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with children as well as current and former students and staff members, including one staffer who said she received poor evaluations when she rejected his sexual advances. The state Board of Education voted to suspend Young's teaching and superintendent certificates. He was subsequently fired by the school district.

CONTRIBUTING: Staff writer Tim Willert