KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — UPDATE MONDAY, FEB. 21: Two days after firing him, the Knox County Schools system warned a custodian he was banned from coming back on school property.
Security Division Lt. Martin Timms told Johnny Osborne in a Jan. 6, 2021, letter that he was the subject of a criminal investigation. It involved sexual contact with a minor girl, although the letter contained in Osborne's personnel file doesn't say that explicitly.
Osborne's involvement in the investigation "threatens the safety of our students and staff, creates a hostile environment and is disruptive to the educational process," a warning letter from KCS to Osborne states.
Osborne was being investigated for sexual contact with the child from November 2020, charges state. He was fired Jan. 4, 2021, by the school system and is now facing prosecution in Knox County Criminal Court on a three-count indictment.
The school system's Jan. 6, 2021, letter told Osborne he was to stay away from school property and that there was "no expiration date on this letter."
The only exception was if he needed to drive onto school property to pick up a student. In such an instance, he couldn't leave his vehicle, the letter states.
"If your student is sick and needs to be picked up from school early, a staff member will escort your student out of the school building to you. If your student needs to be picked up early, you need to call the school office and arrange for staff to escort your student out to you."
Osborne worked at Dogwood Elementary as a custodian and then eventually was transferred to South-Doyle High School, records show.
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Johnny R. Osborne, 51, has been indicted in a three-count indictment in Knox County Criminal Court for statutory rape by an authority figure and aggravated statutory rape, records show. The indictment was returned in August.
Statutory rape by an authority figure addresses a defendant alleged to have had sexual penetration with someone who is at least age 13 but less than age 18 in circumstances in which the defendant is at least four years older than the alleged victim.
He's alleged to have had contact with the minor girl in November 2020.
Osborne is due to appear on April 8 before Judge Kyle Hixson.
According to the school system, he worked for KCS from November 2007 until Jan. 4, 2021.
KCS provided a termination letter Monday confirming his 2021 dismissal.
The Jan. 4, 2021, hand-delivered letter informed Osborne that "your services are no longer needed as a custodian for Knox County Schools. Your employment is terminated effective immediately."
A "No Trespassing" letter sent to Osborne on Jan. 6, 2021, set a lifetime ban "on any property owned or controlled by Knox County Schools, to include all Knox County School's programs, events and field trips."
WBIR has a pending request to review Osborne's personnel file.