Board votes to fire accused teacher

Thursday, December 23rd 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- The McAlester Board of Education has scheduled a hearing to consider firing a social studies teacher who faces child pornography charges. Todd Lewis Quinton, 32, was suspended last week with pay following his arrest. He was freed on $10,000 bail.

Quinton faces three counts of procuring or possessing an obscene video of a minor child. The board has scheduled a hearing on the matter for Jan. 17. Police seized videotapes from Quinton's home. Seized videos depicted a juvenile from the McAlester area, District Attorney Kalyn Free said. She declined to give the child's sex or age.

McAlester Superintendent Lucy Smith told board members Tuesday that she recommended terminating Quinton as a teacher and coach "based on information we've received." Quinton has been employed by McAlester schools since 1994. He teaches social studies at McAlester High School and is a weight training coach. He also serves as an assistant coach for the ninth grade football team, the eighth grade baseball team and an elementary school basketball team.