Students, Colleagues Defend Teacher Accused Of Stalking

John Michael Donadio, 58, was arrested at his home Wednesday and charged with stalking. Donadio is an occupational teacher at Fred T. Foard High School.

News of the arrest spread rapidly through the high school.

“I heard a lot about it,” said Cody Herman. “There were a bunch of different stories going around,” he said.

Authorities aren't releasing many details about what happened, but Eyewitness News spoke to several students who were shocked to hear the news.

"I think there's stuff in the story we're missing, that we don't know all of, and so, because he really doesn't seem like a person who'd do that," said student Sarah Secrist.

Another teacher at the school told reporter Ben Thompson she believes the charges are false and he will be exonerated.

Eyewitness News went by Danadio’s home Wednesday night hoping to get his side of the story. However, no one answered the door.

The school system will conduct a separate investigation alongside the sheriff’s department.

Police said the charge stems from an incident with a male student at the school. Catawba County Schools officials said when they learned of the charge, they suspended Donadio.

Donadio was never booked into the jail. He was released on $1,000 secured bond.

According to the school’s Web site, Donadio has been teaching for 27 years and has worked for 26 years with developmentally disabled adults. He has been married for 18 years and has three sons.