Women describe assaults by former teacher

By Joe Gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Two women who were sexually assaulted by a former Boardman Center Middle School teacher told a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge Thursday they are still suffering.

The two women told Judge Maureen Sweeney that they have been in fear since they came into contact with Jay Dana, 58, who prosecutors say slipped some sort of ingredient into their drinks and then assaulted them while they were incapacitated.

Judge Sweeney upheld a joint recommendation by defense attorneys and prosecutors and gave Dana, formerly of Columbiana and who lived in Fort Myers, Fla., after he retired from teaching in 2011, five years’ probation and 75 days in the county jail. He also must register as a Tier 3 sex offender after he pleaded guilty June 15 to two counts of sexual battery, a third-degree felony and a count of attempted sexual battery, a fourth-degree felony.

Two of the women were attacked in 2006 and a third in 2011. Dana was indicted by a grand jury on charges of rape in May 2013.

Two of the victims spoke in court Thursday.

The first victim, who was attacked in 2006, said she remembers having dinner with Dana until she suddenly became ill and passed out several times. At one point she said she felt Dana on top of her – and he yelled at her several times to put her clothes on. During one of those times, she said she was wondering why she wasn’t wearing clothes,

“I was thinking, ‘Why are they off?’” the woman said.

She said Dana took her home, but she was violently ill. She said he called her the next day, told her he did not want a relationship and then ended the conversation.

“He stated he needed to get ready for school and hung up,” the woman said.

The woman reported the incident to police and was given medications – which made her extremely ill – in case she contracted a sexually transmitted disease. Her son also was very upset when he found out and had to go to counseling.

The woman said 75 days in jail was nowhere near enough for Dana.

“I don’t see the justice of him serving him 75 days,” she said. “Jay Dana has demonstrated a total lack of respect for the law and is a criminal and should be treated as such.”

The second woman, who was attacked in 2011, said she felt sorry for Dana, who had taught her son and niece, because his wife had died, and she had dinner with him. She said he kept asking her to drink from a glass of wine she was carrying. She said eventually she also was incapacitated and woke up the next day deathly ill.

“I thought I would die the next morning,” she said. “I couldn’t function for three days.”

She said about a week after she reported the incident to police, Dana came to her home and she was frightened. She said she now trusts no one, and her sons also were hurt by Dana’s conduct as well.

Dana gave a brief statement just before he was sentenced.

“I’m sorry anyone was affected,” he said. “I never meant to harm anyone.”

Dana’s wife, Michele Ann Gardner, was found dead Christmas morning 2010 at the couple’s home in Columbiana. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.48. The cause of death was ruled as alcohol poisoning, and no charges were ever filed.