When Anthony Dass was hired in August as a theater teacher at Spotsylvania Middle School, he had a protective order against him and had been convicted in Fauquier County General District Court of using a telephone to annoy another person without intent to communicate.
The July 22 conviction for the Class 3 misdemeanor was related to an April 8 incident and Dass received a deferred disposition from the judge, meaning if he was on good behavior for one year, the charge would be dismissed.
A protective order against Dass, a former teacher in Fauquier Public Schools, was also enforced July 22, according to Fauquier General District Court records.
Dass was arrested by Fauquier Sheriff’s Office deputies Aug. 27 on a Class 6 felony charge of extortion in writing, which involves any person who knowingly communicates in writing a threat to kill or do bodily injury to a person, or a member of their family, and the threat places someone in reasonable apprehension of death. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of violating the protective order.
Dass, a graduate of Mountain View High School in Stafford County and George Mason University, will be arraigned on those charges Sept. 12 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 23.
Spotsylvania Middle School Principal Paul Workman sent a message to parents and guardians Thursday stating that Dass was placed on administrative leave when the division was made aware of his most recent arrest.
“We are aware of the allegations made against the chorus/theater teacher at Spotsylvania Middle School,” Workman stated in the email. “As per our division protocols, the teacher was placed on leave when administration was informed of allegations for the non-school related matter. Please be assured that we will continue to provide continuity of instruction for our chorus and theater classes. Thank you for your support and understanding.”
According to Virginia law, to be eligible for a protective order, a person must have been within a reasonable period of time, subjected to an act involving violence, force or threat that results in bodily injury or places them in reasonable fear of death, sexual assault or bodily injury.
SCPS Director of Communications and Community Engagement Rene Daniels and School Board Chair Lorita Daniels did not immediately return an email and telephone call seeking comment on Dass’ hiring.
School Board Vice Chair Nicole Cole said that, although Dass’ conviction occurred before he joined the school division, it may not have prevented the human resources department from hiring him.
Cole noted that in Virginia there are certain “barrier crimes” that will prevent someone from being hired by a school division. Simply having a protective order enforced against a job candidate is considered a civil matter, not a crime. But violating the protective order, which is the latest allegation against Dass, is a barrier crime and would impact his employment if convicted.
The extortion in writing charge is also a potential barrier crime since it involves threats of death or bodily injury.
Cole said although employees must pass a background check, in an environment where it is difficult to hire licensed teachers, the county cannot disqualify everyone with a blemish on their record.
“HR goes through a background check and there are certain things that do not prevent us from hiring people,” Cole said. “People can have smudges and have made mistakes in their background. As long as it’s not a barrier crime or unlawful to hire them to be in an environment with our kids, we have an ability to hire them … we can’t discriminate. No one’s perfect.”
Dass’ arrest is the latest incident in a troubling year for the school division.
Former Riverbend High School Principal Xavier Downs accused a parent of assault in a case that was dismissed in April. School board representative Lisa Phelps accused Cole of assault and battery in May and that case was dismissed in July.
Last month, a behavioral interventionist at Cedar Forest Elementary School was convicted of assaulting a kindergarten student with a shoe. A former Spotswood Elementary School second-grade teacher is facing 20 charges, including 18 counts of child endangerment after she was arrested allegedly with drugs in her classroom in May.
Also, a Spotswood assistant principal turned herself into authorities after an Aug. 28 assault and battery accusation that she left bruises and marks on a first-grade student.
