South Carolina Teacher Sentenced After Admitting to Stalking 11-Year-Old Student

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. — A former elementary school teacher has been sentenced after admitting to stalking an 11-year-old girl who had been in his classroom.

Dylan Robert Dukes, 27, pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment and received a three-year jail sentence followed by five years of probation.

According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Dukes wrote the child more than 60 love letters and gave her cards, gift cards, ornaments, pictures, and “unwanted hugs” that made the student uncomfortable. Investigators said that before summer break, the Starr Elementary School teacher presented the girl with a personalized box containing a letter for each day of the upcoming summer.

Authorities reported that Dukes also joined the child’s church after learning she would no longer be attending the school.

When detectives searched Dukes’ classroom, they found numerous photos of the girl stored inside his desk. Officials noted that the images were not sexual in nature but were nonetheless concerning and part of the pattern of harassment.

As part of his sentence, Dukes must complete mental health counseling, permanently surrender his teaching certificate, and comply with a lifelong restraining order prohibiting any contact with the victim.