Ex-Worthington Christian girls basketball coach, facing criminal charges, found dead at 35
A former Worthington Christian girls basketball coach who was facing local and federal criminal charges involving allegations he had sexual relationships with two of his former players died by suspected suicide Wednesday.
Jason Dawson, 35, was found dead around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at a home on the 1600 block of Briarwood Avenue. Multiple sources have confirmed to The Dispatch that the person who died was Dawson.
An autopsy will be conducted by the Franklin County Coroner's office. Columbus police homicide detectives did not respond to the scene because there were no indications of foul play.
Dawson had been brought back to Ohio last week after being arrested in North Carolina in connection with allegations made by two of his former basketball players and students at Worthington Christian High School.
In April, a Franklin County grand jury had issued an indictment against Dawson for 10 counts of sexual battery. Dawson had been released from custody after posting a $100,000 bond in that case.
Dawson had listed a Briarwood Avenue address on court records as the place he would be living while the case was pending. That address is where Dawson was found Wednesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, a criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court against Dawson, accusing him of sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution or possession of child pornography.
According to federal court records, Dawson had been accused of having sexual relationships with the girls, who were 16 years old at the time, and recording some of their encounters on video. The girls came forward to police in November after finding out about each other, federal court records say.
Dawson coached Worthington Christian between 2019 and 2022, when he left to pursue other career opportunities in North Carolina. The school said Dawson, who had graduated from the school in 2006, had also taught there beginning in 2014.
In 2022, The Dispatch named Dawson its All-Metro Girls Basketball Coach of the Year for leading the team to the Division III state championship game.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or is in immediate crisis, you can reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988.
Youths 17 and younger can get help by calling Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus at 614-722-1800.
Franklin County ADAMH can direct people to mental health services through its network of community partners by reaching out to the agency online or calling (614) 224-1057.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-Worthington Christian basketball coach facing charges found dead
