Alabama teacher accused of threatening child allegedly lured 7-year-old into office

Johnny Mark Dunaway, a 55-year-old former Jerry Lee Faine Elementary staffer, faces mounting legal trouble after Dothan police announced three additional charges of enticing a child for immoral purposes.

An Alabama teacher previously arrested on multiple sex crimes involving a minor is now linked to a second juvenile victim, according to investigators.

New Allegations Emerge

Lt. Scott Owens confirmed that authorities received a report concerning an additional victim on May 22. Following a thorough investigation, which included a forensic interview, police secured new warrants against Dunaway. Court records indicate the incidents involving the second victim, who was 7 years old at the time, occurred between August 2023 and May 24. Warrants allege that Dunaway lured the child into his office specifically to engage in sex acts.

Legal Proceedings and Threats

Dunaway remains in the Houston County Jail. While a judge set a $100,000 bond for each of the three new charges, he continues to be held on a bond exceeding $1 million related to his initial arrest. That first case included charges for the sexual abuse of a child under 12, interference with custody, and enticing a child.

The situation escalated significantly during a bond hearing last Thursday. Houston County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Stanley stated that Dunaway threatened to “blow (the student’s) head off or blow off the heads of his family” if the child reported the misconduct, as reported by WTVY. Dothan Police Investigator Melissa Phillips testified that a search of Dunaway’s home revealed a “plethora” of firearms, fueling concerns that he represents a significant danger and flight risk, according to WTVY.

School System Response

The initial investigation began on May 6 when the Houston County Department of Human Resources notified police about potential misconduct. Although police noted that reports of inappropriate behavior were made to Dothan City Schools in February and again on April 28, those complaints were initially handled internally.

Dustin Fowler, an attorney for Dothan City Schools, maintained that the board was in the process of terminating Dunaway’s employment prior to his arrest but had to navigate tenure laws and mandated due process requirements. Fowler added that board officials were unaware of the February complaint against Dunaway. In a statement, the school system emphasized that student safety remains the top priority for Superintendent Dr. Askew and the Board of Education.

“The level of trust given to school employees that encounter our children is not one to be taken lightly,” said Dothan Police Chief William Benny. “When there is evidence that trust has been violated, the Dothan Police Department will not hesitate to take action to protect the children in our schools.”