Grand jury to review drug charges against ex-Hamilton assistant principal

A Butler County grand jury will consider the case of a former Hamilton Schools assistant principal charged with felony drug abuse.

MORE: Illegal drugs found in Hamilton elementary assistant principal’s office, district says

Kevin Kernohan, 42, of Monroe, appeared today in Hamilton Municipal Court, where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the fifth-degree felony charge. Judge Dan Gattermeyer then sent the case directly to a grand jury.

The judge also continued Kernohan’s own recognizance bond that was set at his arraignment last month. Kernohan has also been ordered to undergo drug screenings as a requirement of the bond.

According to court documents, Kernohan told Hamilton police he used “meth” with a person he lent his vehicle, and that vehicle was later involved in a burglary and arson.

That admission led to a felony drug charge against Kernohan, according to documents obtained by the Journal-News. He turned himself in to police at 12:45 p.m. May 11, was booked and released.

A school resource officer searched Kernohan’s office on May 10 and found “a white crystal like substance” that tested positive as crystal methamphetamine “inside the middle right hand drawer” of a desk, according to court documents.

The search of his desk at Brookwood Elementary School, for “safety reasons,” came after Hamilton police interviewed Kernohan on April 27 about his vehicle’s involvement in a burglary and arson, police said

“During this interview he admitted he does crystal meth with the person he gave the vehicle to,” according to court documents.

Kevin Kernohan was assistant principal at Brookwood Elementary until he was placed on paid leave April 30. Then on May 4 officials removed his paid leave status and ordered him to take his accumulated sick leave instead.

Kernohan resigned from his job, which had an annual salary of $68,368, on May 10.

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