Texhoma Coach Arrested On Rape Charges

A Texhoma coach has been arrested on charges of rape stemming from an incident that occurred while he was a coach in Hennessy, Okla.

Ben Davis Forsythe, 32, was arrested after allegedly having sex with a student from his previous employer, Hennessy High School. Forsythe is charged with second degree rape. He is currently Texhoma High School’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Health teacher. Since his arrest, he has been placed on administrative leave.

According to a court affidavit, a student said that she had a relationship with Forsythe from November 2009 until May 2010. Forsythe would allegedly text the student to meet with him and the affidavit states that on one occasion, the student and Forsythe drank beer and ended up kissing.

Police checked cell phone records and discovered more than 2000 text messages between the coach and student between December 2009 and May 2010.

The student told Forsythe that what they were doing was wrong, mostly because she knew Forsythe was married, the documents stated. According to police, the girl attempted to break off the relationship multiple times and as a result basketball practice would be made hard and Forsythe would be coarse with her at school. The student told police that her senior year was "hell" because of Forsythe.

The affidavit also states that that the student had sex with her basketball coach, Forsythe, two times and that he would kiss her and playfully slap her on the buttocks while at school. Forsythe and the student were questioned by school officials about the kissing and both lied about the relationship.

Forsythe resigned from the Hennessey School System last Spring for unknown reasons, Joe McCulley, the superintendent told police. The superintendent told police that he was aware of the rumors about Forsythe and the student kissing but he told Forsythe to not tell anyone but to find a job elsewhere.

That’s when Forsythe applied for a position at Texhoma High School. According to affidavit, McCulley told police that she recommended Forsythe for the job but had informed the school that he had been caught up in a "buzzsaw" rumor.

"We were shocked. He’s an outstanding guy," Texhoma Schools Superintendent Eric Smith said to Oklahoma City TV Station KOCO. "There was never any indication this would not be a good hire.