MARYVILLE, Tenn. — A crowd gathered outside the Blount County Courthouse on Friday to protest the sentencing of former teacher Joseph Dalton, who pleaded guilty to five counts of misdemeanor assault by physical contact. The protestors, including parents and community members, voiced their outrage at the leniency of the sentence, which consisted of six months of probation with judicial diversion, allowing the charges to be wiped clean after the probation period.
Corie Lockett, a mother whose child was allegedly victimized by Dalton, was among the protestors. Lockett, who had initially transferred her daughter to a new school following the incident, shared her frustration with the outcome of the case. She expressed her belief that the punishment did not match the gravity of the crime, stating that teachers should never have the right to physically restrain or touch students inappropriately. Lockett also emphasized the emotional toll the experience had on her daughter, who struggled to understand the wrongfulness of what had occurred.
“There’s never a reason for a teacher to restrain you, there’s never a reason for them to touch you the way that he touched you,” Lockett said. “It’s important for my daughter to know that sometimes, when people act like they’re pretending or playing, it’s not a game.”
Lockett’s sentiments were echoed by Danielle Kaylor, an organizer of the protest. Kaylor, along with other community members, voiced their dissatisfaction with the judicial system’s handling of the case, asserting that Dalton’s actions warranted a more severe punishment. “Injustice,” Kaylor remarked, “I feel like the sentence didn’t match the crime. I felt really sad for the victims, and that they must’ve felt like they did not matter.”
Kaylor and others at the protest called for Dalton to be placed on the National Sex Offender Registry to prevent him from potentially harming more students at another school.
Lockett also took the opportunity to stress the importance of parental involvement and vigilance in ensuring the safety of children. “People can speak out and protest, but at the end of the day, nothing’s going to change if they don’t rewrite the laws, if they don’t hold harsher punishment, if they don’t start with accountability,” she said.
In response to the outcry, Blount County Mayor released a statement expressing his own anger at the sentencing and vowing to take action to prevent future incidents. “I am doing everything in my power to make sure this never happens to another student in our school system. I am first a parent and grandparent, and I am furious,” the statement read.
However, Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond declined to comment on the matter at this time.
As the rally unfolded, the crowd’s message was clear: the community demands greater accountability, stronger protections for students, and a judicial system that ensures justice for victims of assault. The protest serves as a reminder of the emotional and legal battles faced by those who feel the impact of such crimes, and the calls for change are likely to continue as the story unfolds.
