Former Carroll County teacher gets one year probation for inappropriate relationship with student (2024)

by: Kyler Swaim

Posted: Jun 11, 2024 / 04:53 PM CDT

Updated: Jun 11, 2024 / 06:44 PM CDT

GREEN FOREST, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A former Green Forest teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with a former student has taken a plea agreement and been sentenced, according to court documents.

Former Carroll County teacher gets one year probation for inappropriate relationship with student (1)

Dustin Lee, 46, pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor. He was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $1,190 in fines.

Lee was arrested at his mother’s house in Van Buren on January 9, 2023, and transported to the Carroll County Jail on January 11, according to a news release from Green Forest Police Chief John Bailey.

A probable cause affidavit said a school resource officer with the Green Forest Police Department was contacted by the superintendent of the district to meet with him. The SRO spoke with the superintendent about inappropriate messages between Lee and one of his students.

The student was interviewed on January 6, 2023, and confirmed that Lee sent the messages to her.

She said Lee sent messages wanting her to leave class so they could meet in his classroom. He also offered to take the student to dinner, gave details about his sex life and sent at least one nude photo.

When asked during the interview if Lee ever touched her, she said he would occasionally lean on her and rest his hand on her breast.

A detective spoke with Lee on January 7, 2023, where he admitted to messaging the student but said he didn’t send the messages he was accused of sending.

Lee said he abused a medication that has similar side effects to Ambien and would often not remember doing things. He also admitted to not sending a nude photo to the student.

Lee reportedly picked up his phone during the interview saying he would show police the messages but put it back down saying it was about to die. When the detective told Lee they were going to seize the phone, he grabbed it and said “You’re not taking my f***ing phone.”

The affidavit said the detective eventually got the phone.

As part of his plea agreement, Lee is ordered to have no contact with the student involved, commit no misdemeanor offenses and refrain from entering the property of any Arkansas school instructing children in grades kindergarten through 12th.