Former Olathe School District employee appears in court on child sex crime charges
A former Olathe School District employee appeared in a Johnson County court Thursday for crimes allegedly committed against a child in 2023.
Jason Barrett, 42, was charged with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of furnishing intoxicants to a minor on Sept. 29, 2023. The victim is alleged to be between the ages of 14 and 16, according to Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe.
“For the last three or four years we’ve seen a real uptick in people in the education sector being involved in crimes involving teenagers and children,” Howe said. “It’s an unfortunate reality.”
Erin Schulte, assistant spokesperson with the Olathe School District, said Barrett was a Special Education paraprofessional from 2003 to 2005 and again from August 2009 to May 2023.
“We want to clarify that the allegations made against this employee did not occur during his time of employment, in fact, it occurred months afterward,” Shulte said in a statement. “Furthermore, his departure in May 2023 from the district was not connected to any allegations of this nature. “
The district would not provide specifics on his departure citing privacy laws.
Howe believes there are possibly more victims, and said if anyone believes they were touched inappropriately by Barrett, they should reach out to the Olathe Police Department.
Barrett is being held on $250,00 bond and is not allowed to have contact with children, victims or witnesses.
