WISCASSET, Maine – A Wiscasset mother says her 14-year-old son was strangled during a middle school PE class by an 18-year-old high school senior who should not have been allowed in the gym with younger students.
The May 19 incident at Wiscasset Middle High School has now led to an aggravated assault charge, a protection from harassment filing, and serious questions about how school officials handled the aftermath.
According to court documents and school records reviewed by The Maine Wire, Ashley James filed for a Protection from Harassment Order on behalf of her son, Gavin James, against D’antae Dawkins. A court hearing is scheduled for June 10 at Wiscasset District Court.
Dawkins, an 18-year-old high school senior, is accused of placing both hands around Gavin’s throat during PE class and forcing him backward approximately 12 feet until Gavin was pinned against a wall.
Ashley James said her son’s airway was cut off for several seconds, making it difficult for him to breathe.
“This was a strangulation incident,” James said.
Gavin is a 14-year-old eighth grader. Dawkins is about a foot taller and roughly 100 pounds heavier, according to James.
After Gavin managed to get away and attempted to walk away from the confrontation, Dawkins allegedly followed after him and attempted to continue engaging.
The incident occurred while the school nurse was substituting for the PE class, according to James. She said the nurse was reportedly leaving the class unattended multiple times by going in and out of the gym.
James also said the nurse brought Dawkins, an 18-year-old high school student, into the gym to play basketball with middle school students, despite policies separating middle school and high school students.
“If the school nurse had not allowed an 18-year-old high school senior into my 14-year-old eighth grade son’s PE class, this incident never would have happened,” James said. “There are supposed to be strict rules and separation between middle school and high school students, and concerns about crossover between those age groups had reportedly just been discussed in a meeting the week prior. That makes this even more alarming to me as a parent.”
The Wiscasset School Department later apologized to the James family in a May 21 letter.
“The last 48 hours have been extremely difficult,” Superintendent Kim Andersson wrote in the letter.
But James said the school’s response after the incident was unacceptable.
“What is most disturbing to me is not only what happened to my son, but the complete lack of response afterward,” James said. “No medical attention was provided. No photographs of his injuries were taken. No witness statements were collected from the students who saw it happen. Law enforcement was not called. These are mandated reporters, and my 14-year-old son was strangled at school and then sent right back to class as if nothing had happened.”
James said Dawkins was initially suspended for only two days, and that school officials repeatedly told her they could not provide additional details because of confidentiality rules.
Concerned about her son’s injuries, James took Gavin to the hospital, where he underwent medical evaluation, including an MRI.
The case has become another example of the growing frustration among Maine parents who say they are forced to fight school systems for basic information after serious incidents involving their own children.
The criminal case and protection matter are now pending in court.
