Former Miami teacher waives preliminary hearing on sexual misconduct charges

MIAMI, Okla. – Former Miami high school teacher Kanyen Cole waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday in Ottawa County District Court on sexually related abuse charges involving three students.

Cole, 29, is charged in Ottawa County District Court with sexual battery and three counts of soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology, all felonies.

Prosecutors said after Monday's hearing, Cole is expected to return to court in February for his district court arraignment.

Cole, who worked as a coach and teacher for the Miami Public Schools from Aug. 2022 to May 2023, is accused of having inappropriate conversations with three female students and sexually abusing one of those students.  Two students were still enrolled at Miami Public Schools when charges were filed in May; a third student is a Miami High School graduate.  

In an earlier interview, Patrick Abitbol, Cole's attorney, denied any wrongdoing, saying there was communication with students - but nothing inappropriate.  

The Allegations

*** Warning Sexually Graphic Content***

The three teens said Cole communicated with them on social media platforms about mental health issues. Cole initially denied any contact, but later admitted to investigators that he communicated on social media about mental health issues with the teens, the affidavit states.

Cole also instructed the girls to delete the messages, investigators said.

Court records show that two teens described their interaction with Cole to investigators as “more than just a traditional teacher/coach relationship. "

Cole admitted to investigators talking to the first teen about her “mental health and later stated they communicated about her body image and basketball.” Cole did say the teen sent him a photograph of herself in a two-piece swimsuit. Cole told investigators he "acknowledged that it would be inappropriate to receive swimsuit pictures of students; however, it was about body images."

Investigators say screenshots showed Cole talked about wanting to kiss the first teen and "destroy" her "in the most romantic way."

One teen told Miami Police Department detectives Cole "requested her socks and panties after she worked out due to him wanting to smell them," according to the arrest warrant.

He also denied to investigators sending or receiving any nude pictures, talking about sex with the second teen, or telling the teen that he wanted “her to have his babies.” Cole is also accused of kissing her and touching her inappropriately during his planning period and “in his classroom.”

The teen told investigators she would go to Cole's classroom during lunch, “and they would move out of camera view and kiss,” the affidavit states. Cole denied contact or communication with the second teen outside school hours but eventually said the teen “would come into his classroom during his plan period”.

The third teen told investigators as communication between the two grew, Cole would allow the teen to pick out the outfits he wears and even said to her that they probably shouldn't be communicating but continued to anyway, the affidavit states.

The third teen described Cole to investigators “as obsessive when she didn't answer him,” referring to text and phone messages.

She further described a conversation about her tongue where Cole allegedly made a sexual reference, the affidavit states. Cole attempted to get the teen to come to a ball game in Salina, go with him to a hotel, and hang out. The affidavit states that the teen refused to meet Cole outside of school.

Previous Sexual Misconduct Allegations

This isn't Cole's first brush with the law when it comes to inappropriate behavior with teenage girls.

He was employed with the Salina School District at the time of his May arrest when Cole’s former girlfriend emailed Salina Public Schools Superintendent Earl Dalke, expressing her concern about Cole and his alleged inappropriate relationships with female students from past school districts.

When Cole worked for the Sand Springs School District, he was the subject of multiple complaints and was being investigated and questioned about his contact with female students.

Cole was forced to resign from his position as a physical education and health teacher at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs for "engaging in social media and texting with female students” and for demonstrating "the pattern to communicate with female minors to start those relationships using technology and social media platforms," the affidavit states.

Not only were no charges filed or Cole's teaching license suspended, but Sand Springs officials failed to notify Miami administrators of the allegations. The Sand Springs school district even provided a letter of recommendation to the Miami School District supporting Cole’s hiring. Principal J.J. Smith stated that he would re-hire Cole, court records show.

Initially, Cole denied getting reprimanded and written up. Still, he later admitted to Miami investigators he was questioned for text communication with a student about mental health but did not get into any trouble.

He also said he was "hit on" at the schools by Sand Springs students, court documents show.

Cole is free on $80,000 bail.