Dukes has been billed with stalking and booked at the Anderson County Detention Centre.

A previous South Carolina elementary faculty “Instructor of the Year” has been accused of stalking an 11-year-aged university student by sending quite a few appreciate letters and attending her church, according to law enforcement.

Dylan Robert Dukes, who taught at Starr Elementary University, allegedly wrote in excess of 60 like letters to the youthful girl, and also gave her cards, gifts, and “unwanted hugs” that built her not comfortable, in accordance to an arrest warrant acquired by WIS-Tv set.

Before summer family vacation this year, Dukes gave the lady a personalized box containing a letter for each individual working day of the week to study during the break, authorities claimed.

Upon finding out that she would no extended be attending his school, he commenced appearing at her church.

When detectives ended up alerted to his unsettling actions, they searched Dukes’ classroom and identified several photographs of the kid in his desk, however the images ended up not sexual in nature.

Dukes has been billed with stalking and booked at the Anderson County Detention Center.

“We are fortuitous that this is the one and only demand,” the sheriff’s office environment explained in a statement. “Detectives were being ready to stop the harassment and stalking right before it grew to become something physical – which the juvenile was in concern of.”

The instructor appeared in courtroom pretty much on Thursday wearing a Starr Elementary Faculty t-shirt.

The victim’s mom and dad spoke at the hearing and reported they are afraid for their daughter’s basic safety and worried about the entry Dukes has to their relatives, WIS-Television documented.

“My little one has been handed enjoy notes by an adult male countless times,” the girl’s distraught mom instructed the court docket.

“He attended my child’s capabilities outside of college,” she continued. “He started off attending our church. I now comprehend that this obtain to my child experienced ongoing to increase his obsession.”

Teacher’s legal professional pointed out that her shopper was named Instructor of the 12 months in 2023 and urged he be produced on bond as he poses no flight possibility. 

But the girl’s father protested his launch.

“Presented Mr. Dukes’ unrestricted entry to our relatives about the a long time and the unknown intentions of his obsession, I are not able to sense secure knowing that he is not going to place my family in hazard,” the father stated.

The judge set Dukes’ bail at $50,000 surety bond and stipulated that he ought to not have any get hold of with the victim or her relatives if released.

As of Thursday night, jail information indicate that he had not been unveiled.