By MARISSA DECHANT
Staff writer
A former Franklin Middle School teacher pleaded guilty Thursday to engaging in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old student.
Kyle Askins
Kyle Askins, 25, a former health and physical education instructor, entered his guilty plea in arraignment court to a felony count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16 years of age.
Askins was terminated by the Franklin Area School District in May after being charged.
Sentencing for Askins has been scheduled for Nov. 3.
Askins, of Franklin, was taken into custody in early May following a police response to a residence for the report of a 13-year-old girl who left without her parents’ permission in the middle of the night, according to a criminal complaint filed through District Judge Patrick Lowrey’s office.
Later in the day, staff from Franklin Area School District contacted police with additional information, the complaint said.
Cpl. Lee Bunyak then interviewed Askins, who said he was involved in a relationship with the girl, the complaint said.
During the encounters, Askins said he would take the girl to a residence on East Third Street in Oil City and engage in sexual acts with her, according to the complaint.
Askins admitted to contacting the girl online at 3 a.m. May 1, picking her up at her house and taking her to the house in Oil City, the complaint said.
Askins remains in the Venango County jail on $100,000 bail.
