Former teacher's aide in Oklahoma accused of raping teenager

A former teacher's aide in Oklahoma is in custody after rumors spread that she and a teenage student had begun a sexual relationship just two weeks after she started working for the district.

On October 10, Ashley Waffle, 22, began working as a "temporary" teacher's aide for the Granite Public Schools district in Granite, Oklahoma, a small community of about 2,000 people a little more than two hours southwest of Oklahoma City. According to reports, she and an unidentified 16-year-old victim began corresponding on the social media platform Snapchat on October 25, just over two weeks after she had begun her job.

Their correspondence and their relationship allegedly turned sexual shortly thereafter. By November 9, school officials had already alerted law enforcement about a "rumored sexual relationship" between Waffle and the student. The rumor circulating intimated that Waffle had had the teenager over to her apartment for a sexual encounter on two separate occasions. The district dismissed Waffle the next day.

Last week, Waffle was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree rape. Her initial court appearance was scheduled for November 17, but whether she made an appearance that day is unclear. Insider Edition reported that she has not yet entered a plea. She remains in custody in the Greer County jail on $100,000 bond and has another court appearance scheduled for December 13. She faces up to 15 years behind bars, if convicted.

On Saturday, Missy Berry, the GPS superintendent and principal of the local high school, released a statement regarding Waffle:

"Ashley Waffle was briefly a Temporary Teacher's Aide for the Granite Public Schools. Ms. Waffle was employed on October 10, 2022 and her employment terminated on November 10, 2022. Ms. Waffle is no longer an employee of the Granite Public Schools district.

"Granite Public Schools has been working with law enforcement on this matter and will continue to provide any assistance possible.

"Granite Public Schools is aware that Ms. Waffle has been arrested.

"Granite Public Schools will make no further comment on this matter at this time."