GHS staff member arrested for second degree rape

Update on Sept. 8, 2015 – The Logan County District Attorney’s Office charged the suspect with second degree rape after being arrested on first degree charges. This article has been edited with the correct charge.

An assistant boys basketball coach for Guthrie High School has been arrested for second degree rape.

Logan County Deputies responded to the high school Friday morning in reference to a 15-year-old female student having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a high school staff member.

Through the course of the initial investigation, investigators determined that Byron Jay (BJ) McDonald had intercourse with the under age student on at least one occasion.

McDonald, 23, was then taken into custody and booked into the Logan County jail on charges of first degree rape, rape by instrumentation and forcible sodomy on a child under 16 years of age.

In a release from the school district, Guthrie Public Schools administration said they were notified Thursday evening about an inappropriate relationship between a GHS paraprofessional and a high school student. They immediately notified law enforcement and are cooperating fully with the investigation.

The school district went on to say that following a background check, McDonald began employment with the district on August 14, 2015. He worked as a paraprofessional in the in‐school suspension program at Guthrie High School and as an assistant boys basketball coach. McDonald volunteered the previous school year as an assistant basketball coach.

McDonald was soon terminated after the school received the details.

The statement concluded by saying, “Guthrie Public Schools is committed to the safety and security of all students. We want to assure parents that we do not tolerate this behavior and stand committed to support in the prosecution of anyone engaged in inappropriate behavior with our students.”

McDonald was member of two state championship basketball teams as a player for the Bluejays.