Former School Principal Arrested, Charged with Stealing from Teachers
– By Jim Emerson
OAKLAND,CA — A former school principal faces multiple charges for theft of wages from
teachers, and other school employees in Castro Valley and Newark.
Victor L. Dawson, 52, of Lathrop, was arrested on January 15.
Dawson’s arrest stems from investigations conducted by the Alameda County District
Attorney’s Office and the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. He was booked at Alameda
County Santa Rita Jail, and released from custody after posting $60,000 bond.
Dawson is accused of financial crimes involving embezzlement, tax evasion, and wage theft.
He allegedly committed wage theft involving 47 teachers and other school staff, according to
a prepared statement from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
“Stealing from their paychecks or retirement accounts is a profound betrayal of trust. A civil
judgment against Mr. Dawson includes wages owed to employees, labor law penalties, and
civil penalties totaling $687,986.”
Dawson allegedly stole retirement contributions from teachers’ paychecks for his personal
use. He allegedly failed to file required California tax returns, while deducting payroll taxes
and using those funds for his own benefit.
The labor commissioner’s office obtained the civil judgment, following an investigation it
launched in response to complaints from teachers.
Dawson was formerly the principal at Mission Hills Middle School in Castro Valley and New
Horizons School in Newark. He was the former owner of the private New Horizons school,
which filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and closed in 2024.
