HOUSTON COUNTY: This morning Johnny Mark Dunaway, teacher from Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School who is charged with 9 counts of criminal offenses towards a child.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY JENNIFER STANLEY, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Dothan Police Criminal Investigator Phillips testified that she beleived Dunaway was a flight risk. This beleif was based on the fact Dunaway owned four vehicles in his name, a coin collection at his home, cash, a safe and multiple firearms worth a lot of money. The house was immacualte clean and only some yogurt in the refrigirator.
Investigator Phillipl testified Dunaway had similir investigations on him in Florida and Georgia, and specifically Dunaway fled Florida and Georgia.
Investigator Phillips staed in the search warrant of Dunaways residence, which is in the city limits of Dothan but in Dale County, Dunaway has made application to teach in Birmingham.
Investigator Phillips testified the first vicitm, in a forensic interview, stated they were not allow to discuss what was done with Dunaway because alledgely Dunaway told the child he would blow his head off. That is the child told the parents or police Dunaway alledgely would blow the child’s head off and the child’s family. Investigator Phillips testified that Dunaway had access to many guns.
Investigator Phillips testified the allegations first surfaced in an anymous tips by way of the school tip line. This tip resulted in the Alabama Department of Human Resources being contacted and then Dothan Police being contacted. Investigator Phillips testified to multiple complaints being made, unknown to whom, prior to Dothan Police being contacted on May 8, 2026.
A forensic interview was conducted by the Child Advacy Center and incidents are alledge to have taken place at Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School. Dunaway is reported to have taught math and coaching and was an educator.
Testimony from Investigator Phillips there are two more victims which more charges are expected and electronic devices were taken in a search warrant and are being forensically inspected.
CROSS BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY
On response to Defense Attorney questions, Investigator Phillips there was guns and cash in the home and unknown who they belonged to, but neighbors only had seen Dunaway and his father at the house.
Defense Attorney questioned if there was any evidence Dunaway “fled” anywhere to which Investigator Phillips stated the case is still under investigation.
Invetigator testified that she never said Dunaway “fled” and the prosecutor stated that she had used the word :fled”.
Defense Attorney asked about specific dates stating the complaint read somtime between October 1 to end of October, November 1 to end of November, there are seven ( 7 ) months with no specific date. Investigator Phillips testified it was still under investigation.The inteference with custody is based on allegations Dunaway carried one child to his house.
Defense Attorney asked if any allegations have ever been made on child’s mother and Investigator Phillips testified that she was unaware of any.
Investigator Phillips testified that multiple vehicles in Dunaway’s names, that the vehicles could be used to flee the juridiction.
Investigator Phillips testified that she believed the applicaiton for Birmingham school system is a flight risk.
Defennse Attorney asked if Investigator Phillips had any evidence that Dunaway had ever spent a night in jail expect for the time she made the arrest in this case or that he had ever been arrested and Investigator Phhillips stated no.
That from the day the search warrant was executed on Dunaway, until 8 days later, any evidence that Dunaway ever attempted to flee. Investigator Phillips testified that investigation showed from search warrant forward Dunaway did not stay at his residence.
Defense Counsel asked could that had been because Dothan Police damaged Dunaway’s front door when executing the search warrant, towhich Investigator Phillips testified the front door could be secured. Defense Attorney asked if knew Dunaway was in Enterprise with his father.
Defense Counsel asked was Investigator Phillips aware that Mr. Dunaway’s father was in Southeast Health, that Dunaway followed the ambulance to Southeast Health where Dothan Police arrested him. That his father was in the ambulance and now in the hospital and possibly would not live as only 20% of his heart is functioning. Defense Attorney asked did Dunaway attempt to flee towhich Investgtaor Phillips testified “I don’t know”.
RE-CROSS BY JENNIFER STANLEY, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Assistant District Attorney Jennider Stanley asked if anyone else resided in the residence towhich Investigator Phillips stated no. Asked if everything in the resdience belonged to Dunaway and Investigator Phillips stated yes.
Stanley asked did they have more alleged victims come forward and Investigator Phillips stated, yes, two more alleged victims and forensic inrerviews have been set up with the Child Advocacy Center.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY
The first forensic interviews were held when, Investogator Phillips stated on the 21st amd 26th. And Dunaway arrested afterwards and Investigator Phillips testified yes.
ARGUEMENT BY BOTH PROSECTION AND DEFENSE
Jennifer Stanley testified that Dunaway was a flight risk because cash and vehicles. That Dunaway had fled two states. That Dunaway knows that sexual abuse of a child under 12 are day for day sentences. That another victim has upcoming forensic interviews. That Dunaway is in danger and the community is in danger with the alleged threats that Dunaway is alleged to have made that he would blow the child’s head off if reported to law enforcement. The prosecution asked for bonds of $ 250,000.00
DEFENSE ARGUMENTS
Defense Attorney stated there are 9 criminal charges, eight of which are Class C felonies and one is a Class B felony. The complaints read first to the end of the month with no specific dates and defense has not been given anything but redacted complaints. That Dunaway has worked in the Dothan School System for five years. That his father lives in Enterprise and currently in Southeast Health with only 20% of his heart functioning. That Dunaway is a greater risk in jaill. That Dunaway has been convicted on the internent in the court of public opinion but as he stands in court Dunaway is innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Defense Counsel asked for Dunaway to be allowed to be released on his own. That Dunaway has hired legal counsel and intends to fight this case in court, and has no intentions to flee. That there is nothing worng with someone saving money.
The defense attorney also stated the accusations in Florida were in 1998 and never any criminal charges lodged against him.
HONORABLE BENJAMIN LEWIS
Stated that he would take case under advisement
DUNAWAY IN COURT VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TV FROM HOUSTON COUNTY JAIL
The hearing had to be briefly paused because the other inmates present became unruly towards Dunaway and threat made. The Correctional Deputies had to clear all from the jail courtroom in order for the hearing to continue.
DOTHAN CITY SCHOOL BOARD
Dothan City Schools Chairman of the Board, Dr. Julie Mullins-Turner and District 5 School Board Member Ashley Davis were present for the bond hearing in the courtroom. There attendance was in support of the victims and braveness in coming forward.
DOTHAN POLICE
This case was not presented to Dothan Police until May 8, 2026.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRIOR SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN AND SUPERINTENDENT
When the arrest was made there was critisim against the prior Dothan School Board Chairman and Superintendent.
Folks, it is the STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION that conducts background checks and certifies a person is qualified to teach in the State of Alabama. If you remember, last year the State Board of Education made a huges splash a former Dothan School Board Chairman was stickin his nose where it did not belong and made threats towards him. So a School Board Chairman is in an awkward situation when they take the recomendations and when they ask questions and research.
I for one would tell the State of Alabama Department of Education where to go and it would not be to Shoney’s!!!! The citizen’s elected me and I would research and demand answers. But again they crucify you when you do ask questions, that you are exceeding your authority.
So Dunaway is 90% the fault of the State of Alabama Department of Education. Did you reasearch? It is not the fault of the School Board Chairman and board that accepted the recomendation.
Also, a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Which today, is a myth!
