Dylan Robert Dukes, Former South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Avoids Jail After Admitting to Stalking 11-Year-Old Student

A former South Carolina Teacher of the Year who admitted to stalking an 11-year-old student — writing her dozens of love letters and even joining her church after she transferred schools — has avoided jail time after pleading guilty to harassment.

Dylan Robert Dukes, 27, a former music teacher at Starr Elementary School, pleaded guilty last week to first-degree harassment and was sentenced to five years of probation, according to Fox Carolina. Authorities say Dukes, who earned Teacher of the Year honors for the 2023–2024 school year, began fixating on the young student in August 2023.

Nearly a year passed before an investigation into the teacher’s behavior began in July 2024, after the girl’s parents reported that Dukes had given their daughter a personalized box containing seven letters — one for each day of the week — during summer break, WSAZ reported.

Investigators found that Dukes had also given the child cards, gift cards, ornaments, photos, and “unwanted hugs,” which made her visibly uncomfortable, according to the arrest warrant. After the family withdrew the girl from the school in an attempt to protect her, Dukes escalated his behavior by joining their local church.

Detectives later searched his classroom and found photographs of the girl in his desk. Authorities noted that the images were not sexual in nature but were still concerning given his pattern of obsession. Deputies from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said they were able to stop the harassment “before it became anything physical — which the juvenile was in fear of,” according to the Huffington Post. Investigators feared Dukes’s escalating conduct was “leading toward criminal sexual conduct.”

Dukes was subsequently charged with stalking and placed on administrative leave by the school district, which stated that it was cooperating with authorities and providing counseling resources to students and staff, WYFF reported.

At his initial court appearance, the girl’s mother cried as she recalled the disturbing letters the 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. She added that once Dukes began attending their church, she realized “this access to my child had continued to grow his obsession.” She said she hopes no other child will be forced to experience similar stress and fear.

After that hearing, Dukes was issued a $50,000 surety bond and ordered to have no contact with the victim or her family. At his plea hearing last Wednesday, a judge sentenced him to three years in prison — but suspended the sentence in favor of five years of probation.

As part of the plea agreement, Dukes must attend mental health counseling, surrender his teaching certificate permanently, and comply with a lifelong restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.