The Dothan Police Department arrested two school officials after determining they failed to report possible sexual abuse to the proper authorities.
Sophia Lanette Hedrington, the interim principal at Jerry Lee Faine Elementary at the time, and Bertha Nicole Guilford, the Title IX coordinator for Dothan City Schools, are charged with failure to comply with Alabama's mandatory reporting law.
Police made the arrests after conducting interviews into the case of Johnny Mark Dunaway, a math teacher facing nine counts, including sexual abuse of a child under 12 and enticing a child for immoral purposes.
Police said school officials received reports of possible abuse in February and handled the complaint internally. They did not contact the Houston County Department of Human Resources until May 6, after a second complaint in April.
According to Alabama law, any person who has reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused is required to report to DHR, law enforcement or the District Attorney.
Hedrington and Guilford were booked into the Houston County Jail and released on $1,000 bonds each. They are considered innocent until proven guilty.
The Dothan City Schools Board of Education was not made aware of the complaint in February. After placing Dunaway on leave, the BOE began the process of terminating Dunaway's employment, following due process requirements based on the teacher's tenure.
Police said there could be more victims and more charges pending.
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