A creepy teacher in South Carolina received a lenient sentence for stalking one of his students and writing her more than 60 love letters.
Dylan Robert Dukes, 27, a former music teacher at Starr Elementary School, pleaded guilty last week to first-degree harassment and was sentenced to just five years probation despite the alarming claims against him, Fox Carolina reports.
Authorities have said Dukes – who was named Teacher of the Year in the 2023 – 2024 school year – began stalking an 11-year-old student in August 2023.
But an investigation did not begin until nearly a year later, in early July 2024, when the girl’s parents reported that Dukes gave her a personalized box containing a letter for each day of the week during summer break.
He also gave the young girl cards, gift cards, ornaments, pictures and ‘unwanted hugs’ to the student, which made her uncomfortable, an arrest warrant stated.
When the girl switched schools, authorities said Dukes joined her church.
Detectives who then surveyed his classroom even found photos of the child in his desk, which authorities said were not sexual in nature.
Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office claimed they ‘were able to stop the harassment and stalking before it became anything physical – which the juvenile was in fear of,’ according to the Huffington Post.
Dylan Robert Dukes, 27, a former music teacher at Starr Elementary School, pleaded guilty last week to first-degree harassment
They noted he had been stalking the young girl since August 2023 and feared his actions were ‘leading toward criminal sexual conduct.’
Dukes was then charged with stalking and was placed on administrative leave from the school district, which said at the time that it was cooperating with authorities and had made counseling resources available to students and staff, WYFF reported at the time.
Meanwhile, at an initial court appearance, the young girl’s mother cried as she described the letters the music teacher left her daughter.
‘My child had to endure moments of uncomfortability in places like church, school and sports, where my child should be comfortable and able to enjoy being a child,’ she said.
The worried mother also said the access Dukes had to her child ‘had continued to grow his obsession.’ She said she hoped no other child would experience the stress and fear her daughter had endured.
Following the hearing, Dukes was issued a $50,0000 surety bond while being told to avoid any contact with the victim or her family if he were to be released.
Dukes, who was named Teacher of the Year in the 2023 – 2024 school year, was sentenced to just five years probation
A judge has since sentenced him to three years incarceration – which was suspended to five years of probation at his plea hearing last Wednesday.
As part of the agreement, Dukes must attend mental health counseling, surrender his teaching certificate and agree to a permanent restraining order prohibiting him from having any contact with the victim.
