Mosely sets Davis suspension at 12 days

ALBANY, Ga. — After “sleeping” on his decision for 48 hours, Dougherty County School System interim Superintendent Butch Mosely said Wednesday that South Georgia Regional Achievement Center Principal John I. Davis will be suspended without pay for 12 day for a violation of system policy.

Davis, who has been the SGRAC principal for the past seven years, failed to run a criminal background check on school volunteer Grady Alexander O’Neal, 33, who was arrested last week and charged with three counts of molesting a 14-year-old female SGRAC student.

Following a complaint by the student, an investigation by Dougherty County School System Police Investigator J.C. Phillips revealed O’Neal had a large file of previous criminal activity, including convictions for statutory rape and felony stalking.

County school system policy requires that all school volunteers undergo a criminal background check before being allowed to work at the district’s schools.

O’Neal is currently being held without bond in the Dougherty County Jail.