KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A fifth-grade teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District has been accused of a child sex crime.
Kim Zier, 63, of Lenexa, is charged in Johnson County District Court with aggravated indecent liberties, which is a felony.
Zier taught at Pawnee Elementary School in Overland Park.
The Overland Park Police Department investigated the case, according to court records.
The crime allegedly happened on Jan. 20 and involved a child younger than 14, according to a court document.
A bond reduction request filed with the court on Tuesday states that Zier has been a teacher for 41 years; 31 of those in the Shawnee Mission School District.
The bond reduction document states that one reason for Zier's bond to be reduced from $100,000 to $25,000 is the chance that he could contract COVID-19 while in the Johnson County Jail.
"The defendant is of an age with one or more risk factors for COVID-19,'' the document stated. "He believes he is safer at home, while monitored, than in custody."
The judge granted the bond reduction.
The Shawnee Mission School District placed Zier on administrative leave.
"We take student safety very seriously and have fully cooperated with the police in their investigation,'' according to a statement from the district. "Due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide any additional comment at this time.''
Zier will be back in court next week.
