Harper Woods High School: Dean of Discipline Faces Fourth-Degree Charge
Police say Kyohn Burton assaulted a custodian in a teacher's lounge on October 28, and the district is conducting an internal review.
By Samira Khalil ·
Kyohn Burton, the dean of discipline at Harper Woods High School, appeared before a judge at 32-A District Court on Friday to answer for alleged misconduct that occurred inside the school building. The 55-year-old administrator has been charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct following a police investigation.
The incident took place on Wednesday, October 28, in the teacher's lounge. The victim, a 30-year-old custodian employed by Beacon Elementary, was at the high school for a catered event. A Harper Woods Police Department detective stated that Burton approached the woman while she stood near the microwave. According to the detective, Burton grabbed her inner thigh area and leaned in to say, “give me some of that [explicit], you know you want to.”
Police reports indicate Burton then seized the woman by her left arm and dragged her through the lounge into his office. Inside, he reportedly held the back of her neck while repeating the earlier phrase. Burton blocked the office door, preventing the woman from exiting. Another custodian, who witnessed part of the encounter, helped the victim escape. The detective noted that the victim whispered “save me” to her colleague, allowing her to leave the room.
Investigators recovered three clips from the school’s security cameras. The footage shows Burton pulling the victim through the lounge, forcing her into his office, and then the woman returning to the lounge looking visibly distraught. Burton was arrested on Thursday, the day after the incident, and arraigned the following day.
Burton’s attorney described his client as a 55-year-old man with no prior record who has worked in school systems for more than 27 years. The attorney noted that Burton is married. Judge Rebekah R. Coleman found probable cause and set Burton’s bond at $25,000 in personal recognizance. The judge stated, “upon examination of the complaining witness, I find that the charge was committed and that there is probable cause.”
Burton has served the Harper Woods School District since 2019 and previously worked for Detroit Public Schools, where he resigned in 2019. He also served as an assistant boys basketball coach. The district says it is conducting an internal investigation and declined to comment further. Burton is scheduled to return to court on November 18 for a probable cause hearing.
