Santa Rosa County District Schools’ director of school safety pleaded no contest to battery and will enter a pretrial diversion program in the hopes of getting his charge dismissed.
Daniel Hahn, who has been the school safety director for the county’s schools since 2018, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery Dec. 2 and was placed in the pretrial diversion program.
Hahn was arrested in October after an employee at Gulf Breeze High School reported him to authorities, saying that Hahn entered her office unannounced on Sept. 30, walked behind her desk and began massaging her shoulders.
“(She) stated that when Hahn noticed her discomfort, he stepped back and raised both hands and stated, ‘I’m surprised you didn’t scream by that reaction,'” the report said. “She reported that, after she questioned why he was in her office and why he touched her, Hahn responded that he only wanted to say hello and that it was intended as a friendly touch.”
The woman reported that Hahn then stepped back toward her and began massaging her again, saying it was “not meant to harm her.”
Prior to the incident, she reported that Hahn would invite her to his Halloween parties and had shown her “inappropriate pictures” of himself. She also said he has requested “sexy pictures” from her, which she told law enforcement she declined.
According to Hahn’s pretrial diversion program documents obtained by the News Journal, Hahn must undergo a mental health evaluation and complete any recommended counseling, cannot have contact with the victim unless requested in writing and must obey all laws.
The program is scheduled to last 12 months, but Hahn will be allowed to motion a judge for early termination if there are no violations, according to the documents.
If Hahn successfully completes the program, he’s scheduled to return to court Dec. 8, 2026 where prosecutors plan to drop the battery charge.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Santa Rosa school safety director pleads no contest to battery charge
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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