Suspended Milan HS principal enters best interest plea in auto tracking case

JACKSON, Tenn. — The suspended principal of Milan High School appeared in court Thursday where the court expected to hear evidence in the state’s case against him.

John Burks is accused of putting an electronic tracking device on a couple’s car in Jackson.

Instead of testimony, Burks entered a plea. What was supposed to be Burks’ preliminary hearing turned into a quick end for the October case.

“Are you pleading guilty to electronic tracking on a motor vehicle in your best interest?” Judge Hugh Harvey said.

Burks entered what’s known as a best-interest plea.

“Both the state of Tennessee, the district attorney and the judge allowed him to enter a plea whereby he maintained his innocence,” Burks’ attorney, Bradley Owens, said. “He did not say he did this. He maintains he did not do it.”

By Judge Harvey accepting the plea deal, Burk will avoid jail time but will be penalized.

“He agreed to pay a $500 fine, and he will be on probation until he pays the fine and cost, which we intend to do today,” Owens said.

Owens says after 11 months and 29 days, this incident will be wiped from his record. Burks is still suspended without pay as principal of Milan High School. His attorney said the fate of his job has yet to be decided.

“That’s a decision that’s not up to me. That’s up to the Milan Special School District superintendent,” Owens said.

Owens said he’s pleased with the outcome. “There’s always two sides to a story, and after the judge and district attorney and everyone looked at it, they agreed he could maintain his innocence.”

The Milan Special School District’s Director of Schools Jonathan Criswell said he plans to speak with Burks sometime Thursday evening. However, Criswell said he’s unable to comment at this point about Burks’ future with the district.