Former Olathe high school teacher sentenced for sexually assaulting student
A former Olathe high school teacher convicted of sexually assaulting a student in his classroom in 2018 was sentenced Wednesday to 60 days of shock time and 36 months of probation.
Justin Adrian, a former Olathe East High School social studies teacher and Shawnee city councilman, was sentenced in Johnson County District Court Wednesday.
He is required to register as a sex offender and was taken into police custody directly after the hearing.
The 35-year-old was found guilty of sexual battery and aggravated battery after pleading no contest to the charges in October.
According to court records Adrian, the head of the school’s Gay-Straight LGBTQ Club, first spoke with the male student over the online dating app Grindr.
After sending a series of sexually explicit messages, Adrian allegedly asked the student to meet him in his classroom.
When the student arrived in Adrian’s classroom the teacher allegedly sexually assaulted the student for several minutes before giving him a pass to be late to his next class.
The student’s family filed a lawsuit against the Olathe School District last year. The lawsuit alleges that the student, who was over 18 at the time of the assault, was “horrified, scared and in shock.”
The student’s family declined to comment after the sentencing. They provided their victim impact statements in writing and asked that they not be read in open court.
Their attorney in the civil case, Carrie Brous, said the family was emotionally drained but “feels like justice was served” and hopes that the jail time and civil case will prevent future offenses by Adrian and in the district.
“Their son they feel is very brave for coming forward and they’re very proud of him,” Brous said. “He was at school where he was supposed to feel safe and protected and allowed to be vulnerable and that was taken from him.”
The civil case is pending.
Adrian’s statement
After the incident was reported, Adrian was placed on administrative leave and he resigned from the Shawnee City Council.
In his statement at Wednesday’s hearing Adrian tearfully apologized to his husband, his mother and the student.
“That day I acted impulsively,” he said. “ I have sought ways to ensure behavior like this will never happen again.”
Adrian’s mother and husband each provided a statement to the court citing the counseling and therapy he has received.
According to his attorney, Lindsey Erickson, Adrian texted the student immediately following the incident to say he had made a mistake before telling school administrators what had happened and resigning.
He underwent a sex offender evaluation which determined he had a low risk of sexual violence.
“I am proud of the recognition and solid respect he has given to this situation,” Adrian’s husband, Randall Schneck, said.
Erickson asked the court not to impose the 60 days of shock time. She said her client had already been punished through the loss of his political and teaching career and personal turmoil.
“Mr. Adrian has been punished and will continue to be punished for a lifetime,” Erickson said.
This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 2:32 PM.
