A former South Carolina elementary school “Teacher of the Year” is accused of stalking an 11-year-old student by sending her scores of love letters and joining her church, according to police.
Dylan Robert Dukes, who taught at Starr Elementary School, allegedly penned the young girl more than 60 love letters, gave her cards, gifts and “unwanted hugs” that made her uncomfortable, according to an arrest warrant obtained by WIS-TV.
Before summer vacation this year, Dukes gave the girl a personalized box with a letter for each day of the week for her to read while school was out, authorities said.
Then, when learning she would no longer be attending his school, he recently started showing up at her church.
When detectives were tipped off to the creepy behavior, they searched Dukes’ classroom and found many pictures of the child in his desk.
They noted that the photos were not sexual in nature.
Dukes was charged with stalking and booked at the Anderson County Detention Center.
“We are fortunate that this is the one and only charge,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Detectives were able to stop the harassment and stalking before it became anything physical – which the juvenile was in fear of.”
He appeared in court virtually on Thursday wearing a Starr Elementary School t-shirt.
The victim’s parents spoke at the hearing and said they are scared for their daughter’s safety and concerned about the access Dukes has to their family, WIS-TV reported.
“My child has been handed love notes by an adult male countless times,” the girl’s distraught mother told the court.
“He attended my child’s functions outside of school,” she continued. “He started attending our church. I now realize that this access to my child had continued to grow his obsession.”
Dukes’ attorney noted that her client was named Teacher of the Year in 2023 and urged he be released on bond as he poses no flight risk.
But the girl’s father protested his release.
“Given Mr. Dukes’ unrestricted access to our family over the years and the unknown intentions of his obsession, I cannot feel secure knowing that he is not going to put my family in danger,” the father said.
The judge held Dukes on a $50,000 surety bond and said cannot have any contact with the victim or her family if released.
He had not been released from jail as of Thursday night, jail records show.
