The former Edgewood Elementary School teaching aide who was charged with illegal firearm possession while on probation and employed with Harford County Public Schools is now facing additional charges, including drug distribution, according to court documents.

Kairen Thomas, 28, of Parkville, has a bond review hearing Fridayafternoon in Harford County Circuit Court.

Thomas was hired as an inclusion helper at Edgewood Elementary School in April 2023 to provide one-on-one support to students with severe disabilities. On March 5, 2024, roughly a year after Thomas began working in Harford Schools, Thomas was arrested on charges related to the possession of an unregistered firearm, referred to as a ghost gun.

He was found guilty of those charges and put on probation, then was arrested again in July on a gun possession violation, which prompted the 2024 case to be reopened, according to court documents.

Court documents indicate that on Dec. 10, Thomas’ July case was forwarded to the Harford County Circuit Court, where he now faces the following charges:

  • Cannabis possession with intent to distribute
  • Controlled dangerous substances distribution
  • Two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substances paraphernalia
  • Distribution of controlled dangerous substances with firearm
  • Rifle/shotgun possession of a disqualified person
  • Firearms access by minors
  • Illegal possession of ammunition

When Thomas’ alleged offenses came to light earlier this month, Harford Schools manager of communications Jillian Lader said Thomas had been placed on leave, but that she did not know the specifics. Days later, Lader said Thomas was no longer employed by Harford County Public Schools but would not provide details, calling the issue a “personnel matter.”

Harford County Public Schools has since stopped responding to inquiries.

Thomas’ charges from 2024 stem from a traffic stop in Abingdon during which police say they found 35 grams of cannabis, a loaded, unregistered 9 mm handgun, a black fanny pack with loose 9 mm rounds, a magazine for a separate handgun, and other ammunition in his possession.

He was found guilty of the gun charges and given 60 days of jail time and 18 months of probation starting April 23, 2024. The conviction prohibited him from owning or possessing a firearm during his probation.

On July 8, 2025, police detained Thomas in a separate investigation and said they found a 9 mm Smith & Wesson rifle in a duffle bag he was carrying. He was arrested and originally charged with possession of a rifle/shotgun as a disqualified person.

Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson told The Aegis that he was unaware of Thomas’ charges throughout his employment with the district. This sparked controversy as parents, legislators and community members demanded accountability from the school system.

Bulson responded to the criticism last week in a video in which he said the school system is “taking immediate steps to understand how this occurred and to ensure this does not happen again.”

“Where our processes fall short, we are correcting them; where expectations are unclear, we are strengthening them, and where accountability is needed, it will be applied,” Bulson said in the video.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.