Pryor Couple Who Fled to Montana Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing a 15-Year-Old

TULSA, Okla. - A federal jury convicted a Pryor couple who fled to Montana to avoid prosecution for sexually
abusing a 15-year-old.

The federal jury unanimously decided that Larry Keith Tennison, 67, and Gretchen Francie Tennison, 48, a member of the Cherokee Nation, were both found guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the minor victim disclosed to a family member in 2019 that the Tennisons would get her drunk and sexually abuse her. The family met with the Mayes County Sheriff's Office and disclosed the abuse. Deputies served a search warrant at the Tennisons' home in September 2020. They were charged with child sexual abuse in State court, quickly sold some of their possessions, and moved to Montana. Law enforcement discovered that Gretchen and the minor victim were tribal. Federal prosecutors indicted the Tennisons under seal in May 2021, and the court issued federal
arrest warrants.

More than five years later, law enforcement received a tip that Gretchen and Larry had been spotted in Columbus, Montana, using the aliases "Fran Smith" and "Keith Smith." The deputies with the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office in Montana confirmed they were, in fact, Larry and Gretchen Tennison. Agents with the FBI arrested them.

When the victim testified before the jury, she described being groomed by the Tennisons and the things they would buy her. Eventually, they started offering her grape or apple flavored alcohol when she was 15 years old. She testified to being intoxicated and drinking to the point of stumbling or throwing up. During one incident, she testified that she was the only person invited by the Tennisons to celebrate Larry's 60th birthday. She went on describing in detail how the Tennisons both sexually abused her.

A deputy with the Mayes County Sheriff's Office testified and described what was found in the Tennisons' home after the search. When deputies searched the home, they found various sex toys and a jar of purple and green beer bottle caps that the Tennisons saved, matching the victim's description. An FBI agent testified about the meeting with the victim and how she described the events that took place when she was 15 years old.

The federal jury then heard Larry's interview with FBI agents after he was arrested. Larry described quickly selling their property and planning to drive to Florida to buy a boat to live on, but then tropical storms hit. He described dumping their cellphones, living in their van in the desert, and in various parks before eventually going to Montana. When they got to Montana, Larry said they came up with alias names, and he started working as a handyman.

When agents asked how he knew about the warrants, Larry described going home after the search warrant and discovering that Gretchen was arrested for keying a car. He met with an attorney to help secure Gretchen's bond and showed the attorney the search warrant. Larry claimed he didn't know what the search warrant was for. When agents asked if he knew what the warrant was for now, Larry said they "were accused of doing something to a girl." Without being told who the victim was, Larry began describing how he knew the minor victim. He explained how the minor victim started staying the night with them, and that he felt like "they didn't have a chance…because of her side of the story…" The jury heard Larry describing multiple details that were not in public court documents.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The FBI and the Mayes County Sheriff's Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office
in Montana.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Christopher Kelly prosecuted the case.