MARTINSVILLE, Mo. — Michael Cothern, a guidance counselor at South Harrison R-II School District about ninety minutes north of Kansas City, faces charges of sexual misconduct for allegedly touching the breast of a woman through her clothing and cupping his hand between her legs.
The woman making the accusations is not a student, but even so, the district has placed Cothern, 59 , of Martinsville, Mo., on paid administrative leave. Cothern had been serving as the high school guidance counselor and had been an assistant on the girls’ basketball team.