WHITE HOUSE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A White House High School band director has been arrested after authorities said he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor student.
According to a joint statement from Sumner County Schools and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Hawkins was arrested Wednesday and charged with statutory rape.
Jail records show Hawkins, 32, was booked into the Sumner County Jail early Thursday morning on a charge listed as “statutory rape by authority figure.” His bond was set at $600,000.
According to an arrest affidavit, the Sumner County Sheriff's Office began investigating allegations of sexual contact between Hawkins and the juvenile on May 27, 2026. The victim told investigators that Hawkins, her band instructor at White House High School, had engaged in sexual contact with her.
Detective Eric Poulin wrote in the affidavit that he contacted Hawkins at his residence that same day and that Hawkins agreed to speak with investigators. During the interview, Hawkins acknowledged he knew the student was 16 years old and admitted he had taken an interest in her, communicating with her over the previous several weeks both in person and through text messaging.
Hawkins admitted to kissing the student while at a Sonic restaurant, according to the affidavit. He further admitted that within the two weeks prior to his arrest, he sexually assaulted the student on the White House High School campus.
Sumner County Sheriff Eric Craddock addressed the arrest in a joint statement with Sumner County Schools.
"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," Craddock said.
Sumner County Schools said Hawkins has been removed as band director and will be terminated as an employee.
"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," Superintendent Scott Langford said.
The school district said it is cooperating with the sheriff's office investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sumner County Sheriff's Office at 615-451-3838.
A trial date has been set for June 12, 2026.
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