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!
Slaughter classes, steady to 2 higher .Replacement bred cows and pairs steady to strong . Calves and feeder cattle steady to 5 lower, on a holiday market . Fed cattle in the West steady @ 262 to 266 with Iowa to 266.00 !
Thank you all for your business and friendship !! And remember, we are not here just to sell your cattle, we are here to do what ever it takes to get every penny we can for your cattle.
Sawyer Christian Scott of Dothan, Alabama lived more in nineteen years than most men live in
ninety.
He was born December 27, 2006, to Matt and Anna Scott; the middle of three, the protector of
one, the right hand of the other, and the person who changed every room he walked into.
Sawyer was taken from his family and his friends at 9:27 PM on May 21, 2026, in a tragic auto
accident caused by the error in judgment of another.
He was nineteen years old.
At sixteen, Sawyer was already working a full-time job for the City of Dothan at Westgate Park
alongside men. By seventeen, he was running his own company. He founded Dothan Window
Films out of his parents’ garage, and within a few months had moved into commercial office
space. He approached business with discipline and maturity. Professionalism, a strong work
ethic, and a willingness to help anyone who crossed his path were the foundation of everything
he built.
He loved saltwater fishing. Trucks. Cars. Boats. Motocross. He loved adding mods to his and
friends’ trucks. He was a master negotiator at buying and selling trucks and boats, somehow
always coming out ahead, to the astonishment of his parents. He loved investing. He hated
debt. He loved having his friends stop by his shop while he was working just to talk, even into
the night.
After a long day’s work, he was either on his dirt bike, eating with friends, or working on his
truck, boat, or bike — or a friend’s. When he made it home, he’d persuade his mom into a
Theragun massage after putting his body through another long day even though she was often
in bed. She always obliged. On Fridays, he was often headed to the Gulf for the food and the
saltwater fishing or off to ride motocross.
One thing set Sawyer apart from most teenagers, he loved eating out with his parents. Just the
three of them. While most kids his age were avoiding their folks, he was the one talking his
mom and dad into dinner out, whether somewhere local or a drive down to Boshamps or
Goatfeathers and back the same night.
He spent his money on experiences, not things; the next trip, the next stretch of water, the next
place he’d never been. His parents raised all three of their children to travel, and at eighteen
Sawyer took his first trip outside the country with two friends to explore on their own.
He was educated at Northside Methodist Academy and attended Westgate Church of Christ,
where his faith shaped not what he said but how he treated people. He was known to hand
cash or a gift card to someone struggling on the street. One-on-one, he met people in their
hardest moments with scripture, with words of faith, and encouraged them to attend church.
Sawyer and his siblings were their own crew. Loyal without question. Generous without
thinking. In each other’s business in the best possible way. He was a protector and mentor to
his younger sister, Ali. And ride or die for his older brother, Cole. Through every plan, everyproject, every predicament, no matter the hour. Cole was his first call.
He had a special place for his Nana in Malvern, constantly checking in on her, bringing her
dinner, and sharing his adventures of travel, fishing, and wheeling and dealing.
With his friends, his discipline and ambition were envied. In his down time, he had every one of
them laughing until they couldn’t breathe. The number of people who called him a friend is
staggering and every one of them says the same thing about him, because he was the same
with everyone. Since his passing, many of his friends have committed to changing their lives,
each of them sharing how Sawyer made them a better person.
“The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong
them. I shall use my time.”— Jack London
Sawyer used his time.
Every second of it.
Sawyer is survived by his parents, Matt and Anna Scott of Dothan; his older brother, Cole Scott;
his younger sister, Ali Scott; his grandmothers, Diane Fendely and Merlene Scott; his aunts and
uncles Tim and Tammy Spencer, Laura Dorsch, Christopher and Starla Atkinson, and Abby
Hattaway; his cousins Braden Atkinson, Jordan Dorsch, Anna Blake Pearson, Bruer Atkinson,
and Andrew Dorsch; and a special friend from Auburn. He was preceded in death by his
grandfathers, Steve Hattaway and Mark Scott.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Sawyer’s name to Love In
Action International Ministries (loveinactionministries.com), a cause close to his heart and a
continuation of the way he lived — caring for those struggling on the streets of his hometown.
Arrangements are as follows: a visitation will be held at Harvest Church, 2727 Fortner Street,
Dothan, AL 36305, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1:00 PM, with a service celebrating Sawyer’s
life to follow immediately afterward. Everyone is welcome to attend
Today the Dothan City Commission voted 4-2 to approve a tax incentive plan for Smart Bank to add a new branch across from the Dothan Country Club at the intersection of Cherokee and Main Streets. The total value of these incentives are hundreds of thousands of dollars and they’re in effect for the next 20 years.
This site has been vacant for some time, and it’s my understanding that SmartBank got a good deal on it because it’s a former gas station.
D4 Commissioner Stock and D3 Commissioner Bedwell voted against the resolution because it doesn’t meet the standards that have been previously stated. It’s not something new that will generate sales tax revenue and it’s not in a part of town that needs economic incentives for development. In fact, it’s been said that Smart Bank was going to build there no matter what, so why would the city give away sales tax revenue on the building supplies and property tax for the next 20 years if it was going to be built anyway??? Are they going to do that for every bank or business at a vacant lot or is this just their buddies???
There were also some false statements made by certain commissioners today. Maybe D5 Pierce didn’t read his packet where it clearly states the total value of the project is $3 million, not the $4 million dollar amount he claimed. He also said the city would be getting more tax revenue with this proposal…that is also false. The city just forfeited any right to its property tax on the land for the next 20 years. The only thing that remains is the school’s portion of the property tax, which does not flow to the city. So Commissioner Pierce may need to get himself educated before he starts spouting off “facts” that are anything but facts. Yes the schools will get a little more tax revenue, but the city would have gotten even more tax revenue for decades to come without this “incentive”. Today’s vote no doubt cost the city big money!
D3 Commissioner Bedwell also brought up a good point during the meeting, with all of the talk lately about new arenas and projects, how are we ever going to fund these things if we keep giving away our future tax revenue to businesses that would build here anyway. These commissioners have no problem giving tax breaks to their banker buddies while they get ready to raise your garbage fees, business license fees, and other fees that are being discussed.
D2 Commissioner Kirksey wants $4M to build a new pool in his district, but he doesn’t have a plan to pay for it. He stated in the meeting that this bank was going to bring in 9 high paying jobs. It’s my understanding that this space isn’t going to generate all new jobs but rather relocate people from other Smart Bank locations and maybe a couple new teller positions….and those teller positions won’t be making a lot of money, but I’m sure their VPs who convinced the commission to help fund this pet project will be!
What Dothan residents need to understand is who keeps fighting for them day in and day out, and who keeps showing them they only care about their buddies and helping “the right people” as D5 Commissioner Pierce likes to say. The right people are those with money and power in their eyes, not the everyday people who work hard to make ends meet. Just wait Dothan, the city will claim they need more revenue and will want to raise everything from your electric rates, garbage rates, and license fees. Commissioners Bedwell and Stock appear that they won’t backdown and won’t give away your tax dollars for no reason, even when other commissioners want to joke and say they don’t understand the long game. I think Bedwell and Stock do understand the long game…the long game is taking care of our people and keeping the cost of living low, while encouraging and promoting growth…not giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars for things that would be built anyway. I wonder if those commissioners or mayor who voted for this have any business or accounts with Smart Bank…nobody recused themselves so that might be worth looking into…
3 employees salary of 180,000 and total cost of building in commissioner packet. Commissioners really ought to read their packet.
REHOBETH: 7:14 PM. Tonight Rehobeth Mayor Kimberly Trotter and other Adults with a host of young people were meeting on Rehoobeth’s RED, WHITE and BOOM!
Look at the young people in the picture who do a lot of physical work to make RED, WHITE and BOOM event. And the young people get out and raise money to help cover some of the expenses of RED, WHITE and BOOM.
Rehobeth Mayor Kimberly Trotter and others gets a lot young people involved in what is happening in Rehobeth.
ASHFORD: 1:05 PM Houston County Sheriff 911 dispatched Ashford Fire, Ashford Rescue, Ashford Police, Houston County Sheriff and ALEA – Troopers to a critical injury accident. The accident in on Old Highway 84 and Pleasant Grove Road.
There was entrapment. Extrication is complete.
Dothan Fire Engine 4 ( Southside ) is enroute mutual aid. At 1:25 PM Ashford Rescue is enroute, trauma alert, to Southeast Health.
