Ex-coach in Oklahoma City is sentenced to prison for taking secret photos, child porn

Michael Gene Hestand, 46, of Yukon, pleaded guilty June 13 to five counts of taking clandestine photographs.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated possession of obscene material involving the participation of minors under the age of 18, and one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses in two or more counties.

Hestand admitted having 100 images of child pornography on his home computer, some called “horrific and disturbing” by prosecutors.

Investigators also recovered nearly 30 other revealing photographs of students taken with a cellphone, and nearly 50 suggestive photos of cheerleaders.

“He chose to victimize the very people we entrust him to take care of,” Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Lavenue said.

District Judge Ray C. Elliott could have sentenced Hestand to life in prison.

He rejected a recommendation by Hestand's attorney to suspend his sentence because “he has taken steps to change his behavior.”

Elliott, a former teacher, said Hestand violated a position of trust and should be held accountable.

“I suspect the fathers of those girls would have a few things to say to you,” Elliott said. “I suspect a lot of them would like to take you out behind the barn.”