LEBANON — A Warren County DARE officer accused of making sexual comments to 16 teachers at three schools lost his job Friday.

        Deputy Mike Krznarich was fired after a disciplinary hearing officer found that he “made sexually oriented statements, innuendos, comments or acts to or in the presence or teachers, students and other employees” at Columbia, Waynesville and Pennyroyal elementary schools since 1998. He also was accused of lying during an internal investigation, according to a termination notice obtained by The Enquirer.

        Deputy Krznarich, 34, came under investigation after a teacher at Columbia complained to another sheriff's deputy, sparking the questioning of teachers at six schools in the Kings, Franklin and Wayne districts.

        Two teachers at Columbia told investigators that Deputy Krznarich also inappropriately touched them, but sheriff's officials said the behavior did not constitute a crime.

        Sheriff Tom Ariss declined comment on Friday's action, but Mr. Krznarich's lawyer, Eddie Lawson, said he will file a union grievance in an attempt to overturn the firing. The appeal could lead to binding arbitration.

Elder teacher's abuse case not disclosed to school
3rd-party checks examined in Erpenbeck probe
Lawrenceburg celebrates bicentennial this weekend
Relatives baffled by stabbing
Roach hiring still engulfs Evendale
Man accused of lying about gun
McNUTT: Tornado reminders issued
RADEL: The paint that graced Ohio's barns'
SAMPLES: Show biz keeps them together
Group to rally in support of Sabis International School
Rory Kennedy to lecture here
Local Digest
Murder conviction overturned
Raussen gets GOP support second time around
Yates, Cooper disagree on little in Ohio House race
Congrats
Mother gets 4 years in girl's death
Butler Co. cleanup today
Expo gives college view
Fairfield shows off art
Former official charged again
Jeep-bus collision kills man
Two GOP races generating interest
Clermont commissioner candidates familiar
Deputy loses job over sexual comments
'No call' signup deadline earlier
Pryor guilty in pilot's slaying
Ruby revives old Tropicana
Teen theater troupe focuses on youth smoking
Boy: Cafeteria workers put him in freezer
Cleveland airport terminals closed
Farm managers find fewer foal deaths
School settles lawsuit over boy's death
Town wants to slow golf carts