By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
An emailed statement from Associate District Judge Bob Hughey to Canadian County Children’s Justice Center employees shows Director Daniel Kern is no longer employed by the center.
The email, sent anonymously to the Yukon Progress, reads as follows:
“I just wanted to let everyone know that Dan Kern is no longer employed at the Children’s Justice Center. We will start the process of finding a replacement immediately. Until his replacement is hired, Cedric Mills will be the Interim Director,” the email reads. Mills is the assistant director.
It is signed Bob Hughey.
The statement does not indicate whether Kern resigned or was terminated.
Documents were released by Canadian County Human Resources Director NaCole Majors on Wednesday which showed Kern had been placed on suspension without pay Monday. The only reason listed in the disciplinary action report was “conduct” as the complaint but did not provide any additional details.
Majors had conducted an investigation into allegations that Kern made sexual comments about a 13-year-old girl’s “cute” buttocks and other derogatory remarks about other children housed at the center in front of staff. Majors told the Yukon Progress October 29 most of the allegations had been unsubstantiated.
A call to Majors was not immediately returned.
Watch for updates.
