New Charges Filed Against Former Principal

Arrested Fired 41-year-old Andrew Sewell is accused of having sex with a Dothan High School student. Sewell was fired last week.

by The Dothan Eagle

Published: Wed, March 18, 2009 - 11:41 am CST Last Updated: Wed, March 18, 2009 - 4:30 pm CST

New criminal charges filed against the former Dothan High School principal allege he provided alcohol and cigarettes to a minor.

Dothan police investigators arrested Andrew Dwight Sewell, 41, and charged him with three misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police previously charged him last month with a similar charge.

Court records showed the first contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge alleged Sewell had sex with a female student under the age of 18. The first complaint alleged Sewell had sex with the girl between Jan. 2 and Jan. 28. In Alabama, the age of consent for a sex act is 16 years old.

A Dothan police statement said the new charges filed against Sewell were with the same victim as the first complaint filed. Sewell, who was initially arrested on Feb. 26, was released Tuesday after he posted a $6,000 bond.

The three contributing to the delinquency charges all allege the following according to court records: supplying a minor with cigarettes between November 2008 and Feb. 26, 2009, supplying a minor with alcohol between Dec. 25, 2008, and Jan. 1, 2009 and supplying a minor with alcohol on Feb. 14, 2009.

Someone charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor has a non-jury trial during which a judge determines the outcome. The defendant in the case could appeal a conviction to circuit court, and specifically request a jury trial. A trial date for the first charge has been set for April 3.

If convicted, Sewell faces up to a year in jail and up to a $500 fine. The court also has the option to suspend any sentence handed down, or remit the fine and give probation.

The Dothan City School Board fired Sewell as principal last week. Sewell served as principal of Dothan High for two years. Assistant Principal Matt Humphrey took over Sewell’s duties until a replacement is found.

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