Milan HS principal suspended without pay after criminal summons

JACKSON, Tenn. — The principal of Milan High School has been suspended as officers investigate allegations that he placed an electronic tracker on a couple’s vehicle.

John Burks

Documents filed in Madison County General Sessions Court said John Burks placed a Spark Nano GPS tracking device on a vehicle.  Witnesses reported seeing him kneeling near the vehicle on three separate occasions, Oct. 8, 11 and 12, in the parking lot of a business in downtown Jackson.  The alleged victims found the device on their vehicle on Oct. 13.

The owners of the vehicle were interviewed and said they had no knowledge of the device.

Records show Burks was served with a criminal summons on a misdemeanor count of electronic tracking of a motor vehicle on Oct. 18.  He later turned himself in to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Early Thursday, Milan Special School District’s Director of Schools, Jonathan Criswell, told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News no disciplinary action had been taken against Burks.

Dir. Jonathan Criswell, Milan Special School District

But late Thursday evening, Criswell released a statement saying, “Mr. Burks has been suspended without pay pending investigation and disposition of charges made against him.”