Kevin Kernohan, 42, of Monroe, is scheduled to be back in court June 6 for a preliminary hearing.
Judge Dan Gattermeyer said he would continue the own recognizance bond on the fifth-degree felony, but ordered Kernohan to undergo drug screenings.
Kernohan appeared with his attorney Matt Fritsch. Both declined comment when leaving the courtroom.
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 into 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.
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Kevin Kernohan was assistant principal at Brookwood Elementary until he was placed on paid leave on April 30. Then on May 4 officials removed his paid leave status and ordered him to take his accumulated sick leave instead.
Kernohan was also previously appointed to be the summer school principal at Highland Elementary, but earlier this month the Hamilton Board of Education rescinded that job offer by unanimous vote.
Kernohan resigned from his job, which had an annual salary of $68,368, on May 10.
Prior to joining Hamilton Schools, Kernohan worked for the Butler County Education Service Center from 2012-2014 as its Progress Program principal.
He is a graduate of Fairfield High School, Miami University and the University of Cincinnati.
He worked for Cincinnati Public Schools’ Project Grad program from 2003-2012.
And in 2009 he worked part-time as a Lakota West High School junior varsity boys basketball coach.
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