A Patrick County High School teacher was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of using a communications system to facilitate certain offenses involving a minor, according to Patrick County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Austin.
Harold Bradley Dalton, 57, of Ararat, was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m. in connection with the alleged incident. He is being held without bond at the Patrick County Jail. Authorities said the victim is a Patrick County High School student.
The sheriff’s office investigations division received a cyber tip from the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force on the evening of Sept. 16, alleging inappropriate Facebook Messenger communications between an adult and a minor. Investigator Jason Kruse, assigned to the ICAC task force, determined that the suspect was a PCHS teacher.
“Facebook Messenger conversations with evidentiary value between” a suspect “and the minor were collected by investigators,” Austin said in a Wednesday release. He added that “the conversations were not solicited in any way by the minor.”
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact Austin at 276-692-5950 or Kruse at 276-692-5123.
The Patrick County Public Schools division fully cooperated with law enforcement during the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
In a social media post after the arrest, the school division said it is aware a staff member was taken into custody on Sept. 17. “The division is fully cooperating with law enforcement officials in their investigation,” the post said.
According to the post, the staff member was suspended without pay and measures were put in place to ensure continuity of learning for students.
Since the alleged incident is “both a personnel matter and part of an investigation, we are unable to provide additional details at this time. We remain focused on supporting our students, staff and families as the legal process moves forward,” the post stated.
In a later interview, Superintendent Jason Wood said school officials were notified of the charges and worked with the sheriff’s office. “At the point of arrest, we were able to place the staff member on suspension without pay. We’re thankful for the coordination with the sheriff’s office,” he said.
Wood noted that all applicants undergo a Virginia State Police criminal background check before being hired. “We get that information back prior to offering employment,” he said. State law also requires schools to be notified if an employee is charged with certain crimes, such as felonies or “barrier crimes” that would prevent continued employment.
Barrier crimes are offenses that disqualify individuals from employment in certain fields, particularly those involving abuse or neglect. Examples include violation of protective orders, felonies committed by prisoners, and certain drug charges, according to online information.
While he declined to discuss specifics, Wood said in hypothetical cases, once charges are filed, the division also launches its own internal personnel investigation, which runs independently of the law enforcement probe.
“We are moving through those steps quickly to do our due process. We take all reports like this seriously,” Wood said. Employees in those cases are guaranteed appeal rights.
“There’s a process or steps to ensure protections” for employees, he said.
Internal investigations are thorough, Wood explained, and once completed, officials determine whether the matter is “unfounded or founded.” If founded, disciplinary steps — up to termination and license revocation — are possible.
“When the investigation is concluded, we move to the next steps of the personnel matter,” Wood said. “We have moved quickly through this situation, and again we’re thankful for the cooperation of law enforcement and everyone involved.”
He declined further comment, citing personnel restrictions and the need to protect the integrity of both the school system’s investigation and the sheriff’s investigation.
