KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury announced the results of an investigation into the Bearden High School Navy JROTC regarding “allegations of malfeasance” — specifically the usage of a separate bank account, leading to unaccounted for and unapproved transactions.
Officials with the Comptroller’s Office said that, in April 2025, Knox County Schools learned that BHS Navy JROTC instructors were using a separate bank account for federal funds and, on April 16, 2025, the instructor at the time withdrew almost $50,000 from that account and deposited the funds with BHS. That left a bank balance of $2,066.96, according to records, and the instructor continued to make small transactions from that account until he closed it on October 17, 2025, and deposited the remaining money with BHS.
Records also state that, during the investigative period of April 1, 2023 through October 17, 2025, instructors deposited federal Navy JROTC money totaling $124,092.95 into that separate bank account. Officials also noted that these funds were not included in the accounting records for BHS, KCS or the booster club. The current instructor, according to records, said this bank account was opened by his predecessor before the start of the investigative period. He also said that he became the account owner after his predecessor retired on July 1, 2023, and therefore, officials said more federal money was likely put into the account before the beginning of the investigative period…