October 19th, 2011 
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A registered sex offender’s role at a local junior high has parents worried and the school taking some quick action. Ten years ago, Lisa Karabinus went to jail for having sex with a 13-year-old student at Kings Junior High. Last night, parents found out she’s volunteering as the “team mom” for the school’s 8th grade football team. The news didn’t sit well with parents but there’s not a lot the school district can do. Local 12′s Joe Webb says a”Team mom” is not an official role that would require a background check from the school. It’s just someone who helps coordinate ordering spirit wear… who brings snacks and organizes communication. But the school district says her history with teenage boys means she can’t do even that.In the summer of 2000, Lisa Karabinus was hardly building a resume for work with teenage boys. She was headed to prison for sexual battery. Her victim was a 13-year-old boy from the school where she taught biology. “I know there are no words….I’m so sorry. I’ve hurt so many people.”Karabinus was sentenced to four years. She served two and is still on Ohio’s Sex Offender Registry. She no longer teaches at Kings Junior High but recently stirred things up when she pitched in to help the 8th grade football team. Dr. Valerie Browning is the Kings Schools Superintendent: “We were made aware Mrs. Karabinus was fulfilling this role yesterday and when we were made aware our Athletic Director did schedule a meeting that will be occurring with the hour with the coach to ask him to appoint another Team Mom.”The coach is John Karabinus. The school district tells Local 12 that he is Lisa’s husband. A 7-year-old letter from sentencing judge Neal Bronson says Karabinus should be allowed at her son’s sporting events. An e-mail yesterday,from the sheriff’s office, said there was nothing they could do. The superintendent understands, but says they will not let a sex offender serve as a team mom. “Obviously, it’s not a role we feel is appropriate for Mrs. Karabinus to fulfill. We do know the past history that did occur as our employee and we do not agree she should fulfill that kind of function as a teen Mom for the district. So we will be asking the coach to find someone else to fulfill that role.”
A call to Karabinus’s attorney was not returned today. She was on probation for five years but is not currently under any special conditions. Her 2000 conviction was prior to the law that prohibits sex offenders from being near schools or daycare facilities.
The Warren County Sheriff’s Department says Lisa Karabinus is properly registered as a sex offender. If she stays out of trouble, Karabinus will be removed from the sex offender registry next July.
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