A White House High School band director has been arrested and charged with statutory rape after authorities say he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student, sending shockwaves through the Sumner County community.
Dalton Edward Hawkins, 32, was arrested Wednesday after a 16-year-old student told a detective they had engaged in sexual contact at the Sumner County campus.
Investigators said Hawkins admitted to deputies he knew the student was a minor and that he had been communicating with her over the past several weeks in person and through text message.
The arrest affidavit states that he admitted to having sexual contact with the student on two separate occasions, once at a fast food restaurant and another at White House High School.
His bond was set at $600,000, and he is charged with statutory rape by an authority figure, a Class B felony.
School Acts Swiftly, Community Left Stunned
Sumner County Schools confirmed that Hawkins has been removed from his position and will be fully terminated as a district employee.
He has also been ordered to have no contact with the student, stay away from places where the student might be, and not possess any deadly weapons. He is set to appear in court in mid-June.
One parent, whose child was in the band under Hawkins, told FOX 17 News they never expected something like this.
“I mean, it’s scary,” the parent said. “We moved here from Davidson County because I thought the schools were better, and now all of a sudden this is going on.”
The parent said their child respected Hawkins as a band director and was upset by the news.
“He was a great band director. She learned a lot from him. Liked him, respected him. So she’s kind of in shock.”
Sheriff Eric Craddock said in a statement, “Every child deserves to feel safe in their community, and we will continue working tirelessly to hold offenders accountable and protect the most vulnerable members of our county.”
Superintendent Scott Langford added,
“Our first priority is always the safety of our students, and we stand with Sheriff Craddock and his deputies in pursuing all criminal charges to the fullest extent of the law.”
Experts Warn of Warning Signs in Authority-Based Relationships
Catherine Barkley, chief development officer at the Sexual Assault Center, said cases involving adults in positions of authority can have a wide impact on students, parents, and the broader school community.
Barkley said grooming behaviors can sometimes start with an adult presenting themselves as a trusted person in a child’s life, and can involve gifts, money, rides, food, or emotional support, with the adult slowly gaining a child’s trust and creating distance between the child and other trusted people.
She said parents should pay attention to sudden secrecy, changes in behavior, or situations where a child becomes unusually dependent on one adult, and that it is important for parents to make sure their children know they have safe adults they can talk to.
Deputy cars were outside of White House High School on Thursday afternoon, along with a school official as the investigation continued. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office at 615-451-3838.
