Judge lifts temporary restraining order against former Del Rey Oaks city manager.

The order has been lifted. 

In an afternoon hearing at Monterey County Superior Court on Feb. 23, Judge Lydia Villarreal dissolved the temporary restraining order against former Del Rey Oaks city manager Daniel Dawson. Del Rey Oaks City Attorney Christina Trujillo filed a request for a restraining order on Jan. 12, on behalf of deputy city clerks Kim Carvalho and Karen Minami. 

The court granted the temporary restraining order the same day it was filed, as is customary. Both Carvalho and Minami refused to go to work until a restraining order was in place. 

In their declarations to the court, both women alleged being harassed by Dawson since his Jan. 3 resignation, and that he continued to show up at City Hall despite being told by Trujillo not to. 

Under the temporary restraining order, Dawson was required to give up his firearms and stay at least 100 yards distance from both women. Such temporary orders are typically put in place until the court schedules a hearing on a longer-term restraining order.

In court papers filed by Dawson's attorney, Michelle Welsh, he admitted visiting City Hall three times after he resigned, but he denies that he harassed either woman, and that he "never 'leered' or 'glared' at anyone."

Villareal dissolved the temporary order—but kept the case open—after both sides came to an agreement. Dawson agreed to stay at least 100 yards from both Minami and Carvalho for another 90 days. 

"We dispute the facts stated in the petition," Welsh says, referring to Carvalho's and Minami's claims in court papers. 

She says she doesn't anticipate any problems going forward as far as honoring the agreement.

"My word is my honor," Dawson says. 

Alex Lorca, an attorney hired by Del Rey Oaks to sort out its current personnel issues, says, "The city of course takes the safety of its employees very seriously. We are pleased with the outcome."