Former Guthrie High coach is accused in sex case
Guthrie assistant coach accused in student rapes

By John A. Williams and Diana Baldwin

Published: June 14, 2008

GUTHRIE — An investigation that started with text messages to four Guthrie High School students led to the arrest of one of their teachers.

James Sterling Gilbertson, 27, of Guthrie was arrested on sex charges Thursday at his parents' home following a two-week investigation by Guthrie police.

He was an assistant girls' basketball coach and taught accounting and business math for the past three years at Guthrie High School, court records show.

Gilbertson was released Friday from jail on $45,000 bail.

Guthrie Public Schools Superintendent Terry Simpson said in a statement Friday that Gilbertson is no longer employed by the district.

"... (I)t is the policy and practice of Guthrie Public Schools to do everything in our power to protect our students and their rights,” the schools superintendent said.

The investigation started when the mother of one of the girls received what she called an inappropriate text message she thought was intended for her 15-year-old daughter.

Three other victims claim Gilbertson had been sending them text messages and nude photographs. Two of them admitted having a sexual relationship with the teacher, according to a court affidavit.

Gilbertson was charged Thursday in Logan County District Court with three counts of forcible oral sodomy, three counts of sexual battery and five counts of rape by instrumentation. No charges were filed in connection with the 15-year-old who received the text message that started the investigation.

According to a court affidavit, Gilbertson had inappropriate contact with three female Guthrie High School students on four different occasions beginning in December 2007.

At Friday's arraignment, Associate District Judge Larry Brooks said conditions of Gilbertson's bond say he cannot take another teaching position and cannot have contact with any of his three alleged victims. Gilbertson also was ordered not to have any contact with a female under the age of 18 except for family members.

Gilbertson was named to the Honorable Mention All-State and Big City basketball teams in 1999 while he was a player at Guthrie High School.