Ohio’s “Operation Next Door”: Rev. Dean Dimon Arrested

Rev. Dean “Dino” Dimon (76), priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Avon/Avon Lake, Ohio, was arrested in Ohio’s 2025 Operation Next Door crackdown for soliciting prostitution. He was placed on administrative leave by the Metropolis of Pittsburgh.

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Rev. Protopresbyter Dean “Dino” Dimon (76), presiding priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and resident of Avon/Avon Lake, Ohio (listed differently in official records), was arrested during a statewide human-trafficking crackdown called Operation Next Door for soliciting prostitution.

The hierarch of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh is Metropolitan Savas (Zembillas). Metropolitan Zembillas, as part of GOARCH, is under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Patriarch Bartholomew I).

Law enforcement conducted Operation Next Door as a statewide human-trafficking crackdown. It was announced Sept. 29, 2025. There were 135 arrests. 103 “johns” were charged with engaging in prostitution solicitation and 32 were given felony arrests, e.g., promoting or compelling prostitution, seeking sex with a minor, and drug offenses. Authorities reported: 67 trafficking survivors were referred to health and social services. More than $62,000 in assets were seized.

Nine search warrants were executed in Toledo, Cleveland area, and Akron area, including massage parlours. In Northeast Ohio, warrants included raids at Green Massage Spa (16210 Madison Ave., Lakewood), Dandelions Promise Foot Spa (12736 Lorain Ave., Cleveland), and U Mei Spa (12410 Lorain Ave., Cleveland), as well as a Lakewood residence.

From those Cleveland-area parlors, more than $30,400 was seized. Additional warrants in Toledo included Sky Spa (135 S. Byrne Rd.), Asian Healthy Massage (325 W. Alexis Rd.), and Asian Massage (5333 Secor Rd.). From those Toledo businesses, $32,000 was seized.

Allegations specific to Dimon come from the arresting unit, the HEAL Task Force (Huron, Erie, Ashland, Lorain counties). Dimon self-identified as a priest of the Annunciation GOC. Purportedly, Dimon had acknowledged another prior prostitution solicitation.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh stated, upon hearing of the charges, administrative leave was applied to Father Dimon. He was removed from all pastoral and ministerial duties. The Metropolis said he is on leave “while the justice system takes its course.” Presumably, administrative leave will be retained while the legal process continues.

WKYC, The Independent, and local stations, have covered this case. Media reports quote the Metropolis’ statement and the AG figures. They note that Dimon’s arrest was part of a broader crackdown including other professionals (such as teachers and a federal defense attorney).

Prosopon Healing's Orthodox Church Sexual Misconduct Database identifies this case as Incident 1261. For more information, see here:

https://www.prosoponhealing.com/public-orthodox-sexual-misconduct-d/dimon%2C-dean.

Another case existed several years ago within Ohio of a deceased priest.

Rev. Anthony P. Sarris, long-time Greek Orthodox priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Columbus, Ohio. During 1979–2011, the hierarch was Metropolitan Maximos (Aghiorgoussis).

A female parishioner, Maria Dickson, alleged Rev. Sarris of sexual molestation in the church office in 1991, where the abuse happened in 1989. He was suspended from the church. He retired in 1991. A grand jury reviewed the case and declined to indict.

Rev. Sarris died December 2, 2008.

Prosopon Healing's Orthodox Church Sexual Misconduct Database identifies this case as Incident 1196. For more information, see here:

https://www.prosoponhealing.com/public-orthodox-sexual-misconduct-d/sarris%2C-anthony

Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN 0018-7399; Online: ISSN 2163-3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), A Further Inquiry, and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations.