| 12/04/08 03:41 PM |
#1766
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Jennifer Bolesta (Quick)
MR. LYONS UPDATE
Ex-Broken Arrow teacher possibly captured after 18 years as fugitive
A mugshot shows Ronald Lyons at the time of his arrest in November 1986. COURTESY TULSA POLICE
By KELLY HINES and NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writers
Published: 12/4/2008 12:00 AM
Last Modified: 12/4/2008 3:29 PM
Authorities are trying to confirm whether a former Broken Arrow teacher has been arrested in Paris more than 18 years after he failed to show up for a prison term.
Ronald G. Lyons, 59, may have been taken into custody by Interpol earlier this week, according to Tulsa County Chief Deputy George Haralson.
At a 1987 non-jury trial, Lyons was convicted of three counts of soliciting teen girls to pose in lewd photos, two counts of possessing obscene photos of a minor and a count each of cultivating marijuana, possessing cocaine and possessing marijuana.
Haralson, who was formerly a Tulsa police officer, was the lead detective who made the case against Lyons. Now as a chief deputy with the Sheriff's Office, he is working to coordinate his extradition from Europe.
Tulsa authorities learned of Lyons' possible arrest Wednesday afternoon, Haralson said, but the details of his capture have not been disclosed.
A judge sentenced Lyons to nine years in prison on Nov. 12, 1987. Two hours later, he was freed on a $20,000 appeal bond, which was later forfeited when the convictions and sentences were upheld.
Lyons failed to show up for the sentence that was to begin in March 1990. In October 1991 he was charged with bail jumping, which could bring an additional 20 years in prison.
A warrant was issued for Lyons' arrest, but he was never located.
Lyons was convicted after girls who had been his students at Broken Arrow North Intermediate School were identified in lewd photos.
Haralson said that he was elated and overwhelmed to learn that he was finally captured.
"This is a case that stood out in my mind because a young girl, one of his victims, hung herself," Haralson said.
Melody Teague, a 15-year-old who refused to testify against Lyons, committed suicide two months after his arrest.
By KELLY HINES and NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writers
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