The theater program director of an Oklahoma City church is under criminal investigation after being accused of sexual misconduct with minors in the program.
Jay Prock, 41, was fired from St. Luke's United Methodist Church after four boys made allegations against him. The minors claim Prock, who was the executive director of the church's Poteet Theatre, behaved inappropriately during trips with the group.
Upon learning of the allegations and subsequent police investigation, the church fired the theater director and suspended the program.
According to local news media, four police reports have been filed in the case, with each accusing the man of lewd acts with a minor.
As of this writing, the accused man has not been arrested, nor has he been charged with any crime.
In a letter to program participants, church leaders released a statement saying that they are cooperating with any police investigation into the matter:
"We welcome an investigation and will fully cooperate with authorities to shine light on this heartbreaking situation. While confidential personnel matters keep us from sharing more, it's important to know we terminated Jay immediately last week after learning he had violated his employee agreement."
According to his Broadway World author biography, Prock runs a voice studio and is active in local theater in Oklahoma City, acting and directing in productions at the Poteet Theatre, the Jewel Box Theatre, and the Sooner Theatre.
Remember, anyone accused of a crime is innocent unless proven guilty, and at this point in the investigation, no criminal charges have been filed, nor has the accused man been arrested for any crime.
Lewd or Indecent Acts or Proposals to a Child under 16--often known as "Lewd Acts," or "Lewd Acts with a Minor," is a felony sex offense in Oklahoma. It refers to inappropriate sexual comments or contact with a minor under the age of 16, and state law in 21 O.S. § 1123 specifically outlines acts prohibited by this statute:
A. It is a felony for any person to knowingly and intentionally:
1. Make any oral, written or electronically or computer-generated lewd or indecent proposal to any child under sixteen (16) years of age, or other individual the person believes to be a child under sixteen (16) years of age, for the child to have unlawful sexual relations or sexual intercourse with any person; or
2. Look upon, touch, maul, or feel the body or private parts of any child under sixteen (16) years of age in any lewd or lascivious manner by any acts against public decency and morality, as defined by law; or
3. Ask, invite, entice, or persuade any child under sixteen (16) years of age, or other individual the person believes to be a child under sixteen (16) years of age, to go alone with any person to a secluded, remote, or secret place, with the unlawful and willful intent and purpose then and there to commit any crime against public decency and morality, as defined by law, with the child; or
4. In any manner lewdly or lasciviously look upon, touch, maul, or feel the body or private parts of any child under sixteen (16) years of age in any indecent manner or in any manner relating to sexual matters or sexual interest; or
5. In a lewd and lascivious manner and for the purpose of sexual gratification:
a. urinate or defecate upon a child under sixteen (16) years of age,
b. ejaculate upon or in the presence of a child,
c. cause, expose, force or require a child to look upon the body or private parts of another person,
d. force or require any child under sixteen (16) years of age or other individual the person believes to be a child under sixteen (16) years of age, to view any obscene materials, child pornography or materials deemed harmful to minors as such terms are defined by Sections 1024.1 and 1040.75 of this title,
e. cause, expose, force or require a child to look upon sexual acts performed in the presence of the child, or
f. force or require a child to touch or feel the body or private parts of the child or another person.
Lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child under 16 is punishable by 3 to 20 years in prison if the minor involved is aged 12-15; however, if the child is under the age of 12, the crime is punishable by 25 years to life in prison. Lewd Acts is a Level 3 sex offense mandating lifetime sex offender registration in Oklahoma.
