Head Start teacher is arrested after drug pipe is found in her child's diaper in Guthrie

BY ADAM KEMP akemp@opubco.com

Published: February 4, 2012

GUTHRIE — A marijuana pipe found in a child's diaper resulted in a Head Start teacher and her husband being charged Friday with child neglect and drug possession.

Logan County deputies arrested Jessica Renaker and her husband, Jesse Renaker, on Thursday after they found more than an ounce of marijuana and a loaded handgun in the couple's home, 6801 S Academy Road.

The couple's two children were placed in state custody.

The state Department of Human Services called the Logan County sheriff after someone at Guthrie Head Start, 2700 S Division St., found that a marijuana pipe had been placed in a diaper worn by one of the children.

Jessica Renaker, a certified early childhood education instructor, has been teaching at the Coyle Head Start/Early Start Program since September 2007. Paula Brown, the area supervisor for Head Start, said Renaker's two children are enrolled in the Guthrie program.

Deputies reported the house was littered with trash, and they found marijuana, a loaded .380-caliber handgun and four marijuana pipes within the reach of children, according to a court record.

Child neglect is punishable by imprisonment up to life or a fine up to $5,000.

Jessica and Jesse Renaker were released from the Logan County jail Friday on $52,000 bail each.

The Coyle Head Start program is housed at Coyle Public School. Superintendent Josh Sumrall said district officials work closely with the program, but Renaker isn't an employee of the district.

“We are looking more into the details,” Sumrall said. “We want to do whatever we can to protect the safety of the kids in our programs.”