Randy Lan’Taz Steele, 52, of Lawton pleaded guilty Friday to lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 and two counts of child abuse. Comanche County District Judge Grant Sheperd sentenced him to 10 years in prison on the lewd conduct count, with 15-year suspended sentences on each abuse count to run concurrently. Steele was also ordered to pay $5,271 in fines, fees and court costs and must register as a sex offender.
Court records say the case came to light in 2025 when a 13-year-old girl told her school counselor that Steele had been touching her since she was six. The counselor reported it, and Lawton police opened an investigation. The girl also described severe belt beatings that she, her 12-year-old brother and her 10-year-old sister were subjected to, according to the warrant affidavit.
For families here in Lawton and across Comanche County, this case is a reminder of how much weight a single report can carry. School counselors, teachers and staff are mandatory reporters, and a child’s decision to tell a trusted adult is often the first step toward accountability. If you or a child you know needs help, Oklahoma’s Child Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-522-3511.
What do you think the community can do to better support kids after cases like this? Let us know on our Facebook page.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.