CORNELIUS, N.C. — A former high school basketball coach was arrested in Mecklenburg County for sex crimes with two students in Ohio.
Jason Dawson, 35, was arrested on Monday in Cornelius for out-of-state charges of sexual battery with a minor and pandering sexually oriented matter with a minor.
Dawson was a girls basketball coach at Christ the King Catholic High School. He began working on a temporary contract with the school for the 2023-24 season, according to the Diocese of Charlotte. Dawson's contract ended on March 1 when the season was over.
School officials told WCNC Charlotte Dawson also held summer basketball clinics at Saint Mark Catholic School in Huntersville. They said both Huntersville schools have alerted parents of Dawson’s arrest.
Court records obtained by WCNC Charlotte sister station WBNS say that Dawson had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student at Worthington Christian High School in Franklin County, Ohio beginning in 2021. The victim told police that Dawson recorded the two having intercourse multiple times. According to court records, police found three of those videos on the victim’s cell phone.
According to WCNC Charlotte's NBC affiliate in Columbus, court records say the second victim alleges the sexual activity with Dawson happened on school property in 2020.
"The behavior described in these reports is despicable, criminal, and against everything we stand for and teach," a Worthington High School spokesperson said. "That’s why we’re committed to providing our full cooperation with law enforcement to bring this former employee to justice. Sexual assault is never acceptable, and we will not stand for it."
Dawson left the Ohio school in 2022 and took a job in North Carolina.
"We have no reason to believe any issues occurred during Mr. Dawson’s time at Christ the King or St. Mark, but we are continuing to investigate because nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of our students," a Diocese of Charlotte spokesperson said.
Dawson was given a $1 million bond and remains in Mecklenburg County jail awaiting extradition to Ohio.