TULSA, Okla. — A former middle school teacher and coach from Missouri has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for traveling to Oklahoma to engage in illegal conduct involving a minor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Ronald Dale Sanders, 57, of Belton, Missouri, was convicted of six federal offenses, including traveling with intent to engage in unlawful activity, abuse and contact offenses in Indian Country, tampering with evidence, coercion of a minor, and production of illegal material. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill handed down a 360-month sentence, followed by lifetime supervision. Sanders must also register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Sanders initiated contact with a former student through social media. Over several weeks, the communication became inappropriate, and he encouraged the minor to conceal the relationship. Between August and October 2023, Sanders traveled from Missouri to Oklahoma on multiple occasions, misrepresenting himself to the child’s family and entering their community under false pretenses.
Officials said Sanders used his prior position as a teacher to gain trust, attending school events and claiming to act as a tutor. He also gave gifts and made efforts to avoid detection. In October 2023, one of the minor’s parents discovered Sanders outside their home and notified law enforcement. He was later stopped by officers and taken into custody.
A joint investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol uncovered extensive communication between Sanders and the minor that supported the charges brought against him.
“This sentence reflects the serious nature of the crimes committed and the breach of trust involved,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma in coordination with federal and local law enforcement.