Police Detective, Teacher arrested for Sexual Assault Cover-Up - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Meghan McRoberts

BLAIR (KPTM)-

For more than a decade, Washington County court records show that William Dawson, a detective with the Omaha Police Department, and his wife, Jeanne Dawson, a second grade teacher at Mount View Elementary School, knew about a sexual assault and did not come forward to authorities.

Documents say they knew when an 8-year-old boy sexually assaulted a 3- year old girl more than ten years ago. Records also show the assaults happened as recently as two years ago.

Investigators say Jeanne and William told the girl and the boy, who is now an adult, not to tell investigators the details.

Health and Human Services received an anonymous call about the assaults. When investigating, documents show that the suspect admitted, "[William and Jeanne] told me not to tell you I put my hand down [The girl's] pants."

When William found out that the man told investigators those details, documents show that he was surprised. The suspect told investigators, "He was surprised that I told you guys about putting my hand down her pants. He told me that, he told me not to tell you guys that and I shouldn't have mentioned it."

Jeanne and William are both charged with lying to investigators, and telling the victim and the man to lie as well. They also face child abuse charges for putting the girl in a situation where they knew she could be assaulted.

Jeanne has been teaching for more than 20 years, 4 of those years at Mount View Elementary. Students told FOX 42 that she is one of their favorite teachers.

William has been with the Omaha Police Department for more than ten years.

Neighbors tell us that they are the last pair they would expect to do this.

"To say you claim to support and care about the kids and yet…. It's sad," said one neighbor.

William is also seeking to be elected to the Blair School Board. Neighbors say this sends the wrong message to the kids.

"It will ripple through I think most of all to the kids. You can say something but some adults don't listen or do the right thing."

Both are scheduled to appear in court in early December.