Teacher’s court date delayed

Arraignment for a Green Forest High School teacher who is charged with one felony count of internet stalking of a child was postponed last week at the request of his attorney.

Dustin Don “Dusty” Lee, an English teacher at GFHS, was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Feb. 6, in Carroll County Circuit Court.

Circuit Judge Scott Jackson issued an order Feb. 2, however, continuing Lee’s arraignm ent hearing until Mond a y , Feb. 13. Jackson’s order came after Lee’s attorney, Kimberly R. Weber of Rogers, filed a motion earlier on Feb. 2, seeking the continuance.

Carroll County deputy prosecuting attorney Craig Parker filed formal charges on Monday, Feb. 6. In addition to the felony count of internet stalking of a child, Lee also is charged with one misdemeanor count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.

The charges stem from alleged inappropriate contact between Lee and a 15-year-old female student.

According to a probable- cause affidavit written by Green Forest police detective Allen Phillips, an investigation began after Green Foresrt School District superintendent Matt Summers spoke with school resource officer D.J. Harlan on Jan. 4. During his meeting with Summers, Harlan was asked to review “SnapChat” messages between Lee and the female student, who is in Lee’s English class, the affidavit says.

On Saturday, Jan. 7, Phillips spoke to Lee at his home, the affidavit says. Lee told Phillips that he had messaged the student but said he didn’t send the messages the student had accused him of sending, according to the affidavit. Lee told Phillips that he abuses a medication with similar side effects to Ambien and often could not remember doing things, the affidavit says.

An arrest warrant for Lee was issued Jan. 9, and he was arrested at his mother’s home in Van Buren. He is currently free on a $75,000 bond.