Image Credit: SCSO & White House High School
Tennessee Conservative News Staff –
A Middle Tennessee band director has been arrested for child sex crimes.
According to a statement from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and Sumner County Schools, now-former band director Dalton Hawkins was arrested on May 27, 2026. Hawkins was serving as the band director at White House High School.
A police affidavit states that an investigation began after an allegation was made of sexual contact between 32-year-old Hawkins and a 16-year-old female student. The student told a detective that she and Hawkins had engaged in sexual activity more than once.
When law enforcement officials questioned Hawkins, he acknowledged that he was aware that the student was only 16 but said he had “taken an interest” in her. He also admitted to communicating with the student in person and via text message over the past few weeks.
Hawkins told police that he and the student had engaged in sexual contact two different times – once on the school campus and once at a fast food restaurant.
He was arrested last week and was charged with statutory rape by an authority figure. This charge is a class B felony and is punishable with a minimum eight-year prison sentence if found guilty.
“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,” Sumner County Sheriff Eric Craddock said in a statement.
Hawkins was booked on a $600,000 bond. He has been ordered to have no contact with the student.
Sumner County Schools has confirmed that Hawkins has been terminated from his position at White House High School. He is scheduled to appear in court next month.
“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,” Sumner County Schools Superintendent Scott Langford said in the statement.
Sources:
https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/white-house-band-director-arrested-for-statutory-rape
