A former South Carolina teacher who sent over 60 love letters to a student he stalked has pleaded guilty to harassment.
FOX Carolina reports that 27-year-old Dylan Robert Dukes admitted in court Wednesday, he contacted the victim after she left Starr Elementary School in Anderson County.
After realizing she would no longer attend the school, he joined her church.
Dukes also engaged in a string of obsessive behavior, including love letters, gift cards, gifts and “unwanted” hugs, which began in 2023.
According to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, investigators searched Dukes’ classroom and found photos of the child, which were not sexual in nature.
In July 2024, the victim’s mother stated that her daughter became uncomfortable, as Dukes began showing up at functions he should not have been at.
“My child has 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,” the mother said.
Investigators said Dukes had been stalking the victim since August 2023 and that his behavior had been “leading toward criminal sexual conduct.”
“Detectives were able to stop the harassment and stalking before it became anything physical ― which the juvenile was in fear of,” a news release by the sheriff’s office stated.
Police then arrested Dukes and charged him with stalking.
During Wednesday’s plea hearing, Dukes pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment. A judge sentenced to him to three years behind bars, which was suspended to five years of probation.
He’s also required to surrender his teaching certificate, undergo mental health counseling. The judge also approved a permanent restraining order, which prohibits any contact with the victim.
According to NBC 4, Starr Elementary named Dukes “teacher of the year” for the 2023-2024 school year.
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[Feature Photo: Dylan Dukes/Anderson County District 3]
