Special Ed Teacher Arrested In Napa Sexual Battery Incident: Cops

NAPA, CA — A former Sonoma special education teacher was tracked down and arrested last week in connection with a sexual battery that took place in August in Napa, police said.

John Davidson, 55, is accused of walking into a business Aug. 25, 2021, in the 2000 block of Redwood Road in Napa, and without saying anything, grabbing one of two women in the business, Napa police Sgt. Pete Piersig said.

"Davidson had a 'blank stare' when he walked toward her," Piersig said. "Davidson grabbed the victim around her upper body with one hand and, while holding her, tried to kiss her. He tried to grab her breast with his free hand. The victim recoiled and pulled away from Davidson before he completed the sexual assault."

The incident was captured on surveillance video, which shows Davidson immediately turned and walked out of the business, according to police.

He left in a rental vehicle but the victim got the license plate number and reported it to the Napa Police Department.

A detective got a search warrant for the car rental information and that is how Davidson was identified as the perpetrator, according to police.

Davidson had no prior criminal history and Napa detectives are not aware of any similar incidents involving Davidson, Piersig said.

However, detectives learned Davidson was contacted regarding the same rental vehicle causing damage in Santa Rosa, and at a Sonoma school where he was a special education teacher.

"The detective learned through Sonoma County Sheriff reports that Davidson had vandalized his classroom the day he came to Napa, and was fired the next day when he returned to work," Piersig said.

For a while, Davidson’s whereabouts were not known.

Then records showed he applied for a teaching job in the Sacramento area.

The detective tracked Davidson to a preschool in the Robla School District, where Davidson was again working as a special education teacher.

Since Davidson's home address was not updated and was not known, Napa police detectives went to the preschool Feb. 17 and arrested Davidson.

He was booked into Napa County jail on suspicion of misdemeanor assault and battery and was released later that same day on $25,000 bail, records showed.