A former coach and middle school teacher has been sentenced for multiple counts related to child exploitation and sexual abuse of a minor, as announced by U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Ronald Dale Sanders, 57, from Belton, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill to 360 months in prison followed by lifetime supervision. Upon release, Sanders must register as a sex offender.
“Sanders is a dangerous child predator and every parent’s worst nightmare,” stated U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “His career in teaching and coaching put him in a position to manipulate and exploit a minor child and their family to fulfill his sexual desires.”
FBI Oklahoma City Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Ogden added, “As a teacher, the defendant held a position of trust in the eyes of his victim and the community. He violated that trust by exploiting a former student for his own sexual gratification.”
Between August 2023 and October 2023, Sanders admitted traveling from Missouri to Oklahoma to engage in sexual acts with a 14-year-old. Court records indicate that he began communicating with the minor through social media which led to inappropriate conversations and coercion for explicit photos.
Sanders’ employment history included roles as a special education teacher, middle school educator, and coach. He used this background to gain access to the child’s life under the guise of being a tutor while befriending the family.
The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office along with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol apprehended Sanders after an incident where he fled from one of the minor’s parents who caught him outside their home late at night.
Investigations revealed thousands of sexually explicit messages between Sanders and the minor. The case was investigated by several law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Miami Police Department, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol with significant involvement from Miami Public Schools.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Valeria Luster prosecuted this case under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation.
