Case against Dothan High principal sealed

The recent criminal charge filed against Dothan High School’s principal will go before a judge in a closed courtroom, when and if it goes to trial.

Carla Woodall, the Houston County Circuit Court clerk, said the recent criminal charge filed against Andrew Dwight Sewell will be tried in juvenile court, which makes the charge a sealed case.

Dothan police arrested Sewell, 41, on Thursday and charged him with misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Sewell, of Montrose Court, was released from custody at the Houston County Jail after he posted a $600 bond. According to a police statement, police have called the allegation part of an ongoing investigation, which could result in additional charges.

Dothan city school and police officials released information last week that said the allegation stemmed from an inappropriate relationship with a female student under the age of 18. Sewell has been principal of Dothan High for two years. Assistant Principal Matt Humphrey will take over Sewell’s duties for the time being.

“It’s the only charge against an adult that I know of that’s tried in juvenile court,” Woodall said.

Woodall said by law, as the clerk of court, she can not even confirm a case exists in juvenile court, including the Sewell case, but she said press releases were recently sent out by city officials.

Woodall said if the case against Sewell goes to trial, it would be held in a courtroom closed to the public, and not even the defendant’s family could attend unless agreed to by the parties. She said the Sewell case would be held in front of Circuit Court Judge Butch Binford as are other juvenile cases.

If convicted, Sewell faces up to a year of hard labor and up to a $500 fine. But Woodall said the court also has the option to suspend any sentence handed down, or remit the fine and sentence the defendant to probation.

Woodall said if convicted, the charge would not show up on a background check because the case would be sealed in juvenile court.

She said generally a contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge deals with alcohol or cigarette-related issues. But she said it can also deal with dating issues and relationships where the parents or guardian have told an adult not to see their child.

Derek Yarbrough, who has been retained to represent Sewell, said he’s not been made aware of any additional charges. Yarbrough also said he is not aware of an arraignment date in the case, which he said would be the next court date.