More legal trouble for Canfield teacher

CANFIELD

A Canfield teacher on leave faces an additional charge ahead of his pre-trial hearing this afternoon.

Douglas Dawson, 47, was charged with one count of violating a protection order on Jan. 1 and arraigned Jan. 2.

He is due in court for a pre-trial hearing at 4 p.m. in Mahoning County Area Court in Canfield on that charge, and domestic violence, obstructing official business and resisting arrest after a Thanksgiving night incident with his family. He has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

He is on paid administrative leave from Canfield schools, where he is a teacher at the Canfield Village Middle School, until his court cases are resolved.

A police report on the last incident, violating a protection order, details that he went to the home of his wife, Greenmont Drive, to see his kids 11 a.m. Jan. 1. Since there was no confirmation of a visitation before he arrived, Canfield City police arrested him on the charge.

Dawson told police he tried to contact his wife twice that morning, but did not hear back from her. His wife told police she had blocked his number and that their kids were not ready to see Dawson.

Online court records show Dawson’s wife filed for divorce Dec. 30.