Teacher reprimanded for not reporting moonshine

School administrators in Logan County reprimanded a middle school teacher for not reporting a student who brought moonshine to class.

Riverside Local Schools science teacher Jennifer Thompson told officers she knew the 13-year-old student had built a still and was producing alcohol, according to a Logan County Sheriffs Office’s report.

In January, the report says the student brought some of the liquor to show in science class, and Thompson dumped it down the drain. However, she did not report the incident to school administrators or law enforcement.

Logan County Sheriff Andy Smith said he rarely deals with moonshine cases and can’t remember an incident like this in his law enforcement career.

Capt. Dave Rapp of the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office said it is rare in his county as well, but said he knows distillers are still out there.

Undercover Champaign County detectives arrested a Champaign County Fair Board member last August for selling moonshine out his camper at the fair.

James Kerns, 51, of St. Paris, pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to community control for six months, fined $800 and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.

Riverside Local Schools suspended the student who brought the alcohol to class and he is awaiting an expulsion hearing.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office contacted the county prosecutor and Ohio’s investigative unit about possible charges against Thompson.