Teacher of the Year is said to have sent 11-year-old student over 60 “love letters”

A 27-year-old South Carolina teacher has been accused of stalking an 11-year-old girl, to whom authorities said he sent more than 60 “love letters,” the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said.

Starr Elementary School teacher Dylan Dukes was charged with stalking after officials accused him of inappropriately communicating with a former student, the press release said.

After the investigation began Monday, investigators who searched Dukes’ classroom reported finding several photos of Dukes and the 11-year-old in his desk, the news release said. Authorities stressed that the photos were not sexual in nature.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by HuffPost, officials said Dukes had been stalking the girl since August 2023 and feared his actions would “result in a criminal sex offense.”

Dukes is said to have given the girl more than 60 “love letters” in a personalized box during the summer holidays, according to the press release. There was a letter for each day of the week.

In addition to the letters, according to the arrest warrant, Dukes also gave the girl gift cards, jewelry and pictures and gave her an unwanted hug, which made her feel uncomfortable.

“Investigators were able to stop the harassment and pursuit before it escalated into physical confrontation, which the juvenile was afraid of,” the sheriff’s press release said.

Speaking at her bail hearing on Thursday, the girl’s mother began to cry as she described the letters Dukes wrote declaring his love for the girl. The mother said Dukes manipulated the family and even joined her church to see the girl. She said she wanted to make sure no other child experienced the stress and anxiety her child experienced.

“My child had to endure uncomfortable moments in places like church, school and sports, where he should feel comfortable and enjoy being a child,” said the mother.

The girl’s mother said Duke’s access to her child “made his obsession grow further.” The father asked the judge to consider his family’s safety when deciding whether to grant Duke’s bail request.

“Given Mr. Dukes’ unrestricted access to our family over the years and the unknown intentions of his obsession, I cannot feel confident that he will put my family in danger,” the father said.

An attorney representing Dukes at his hearing asked the judge to grant him bail because he is not a flight risk and has been named Starr Elementary’s Teacher of the Year in 2023.

Duke’s bail was eventually set at $50,000 and he was ordered not to have any contact with the girl or her family.

In a statement to WYFF-TV in Greenville, South Carolina, Kathy D. Hipp, superintendent of Anderson School District 3, said Dukes was placed on administrative leave following his arrest.