Guthrie High School Teacher Arrested After Sending Inappropriate Messages To Student

GUTHRIE, Oklahoma – 

Inappropriate Instagram messages have 43-year-old Shawna Kathrein in legal trouble. Now, she is facing a $10,000 fine, time in prison, or both.

Guthrie Police said it was all thanks to a student with the courage to come forward.

“We received a call from Guthrie High School regarding possible inappropriate photos that were sent from a teacher to a 16-year-old student,” said Sgt. Anthony Gibbs with the Guthrie Police Department.

Police said the teacher found the 16-year-old student on social media over Christmas break and sent him photos through chat.

“During our investigation, we found that the teacher actually had this particular student in class and had later searched out the student on Instagram and was able to locate that and then ended up befriending this student,” said Sgt. Gibbs.

The student reported her on Friday, January 14th while she was out of town.

“Overly friendly as far as proximity, extra attention shown in class, seeking out that child during the school day, etc. Those are some of the things that the student reported,” he said.

In a statement Guthrie Public Schools said, “the teacher has not been at school since Thursday” and they immediately contacted Guthrie Police when the student came forward.

Court records show police arrested Kathrein Monday evening when she got back into town. She was booked on engaging in sexual communication with a minor by use of technology complaint.

“There were several photos that were sent of semi-nude or nude nature and those constituted the predominant reason for that charge,” said Sgt. Gibbs.

Police have issued a search warrant for chats that were deleted, and the two phones involved.

Guthrie Police want to remind students to always report things like this to someone they trust.

Shawna Kathrein