BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond confirmed a former Blount County Schools employee pleaded guilty to several assault charges this week over five incidents seen on camera at two elementary schools.
Deputies arrested Joseph Michael Dalton in January over five incidents involving elementary school students after the DA's office filed charges against him. The DA said he pleaded guilty to five assault counts of offensive touching on Sept. 4 and his sentencing is set for Nov. 6, Desmond said.
A Blount County Schools spokesperson sent 10News this statement about Dalton:
"Student safety is a top priority for Blount County Schools. Our district works in collaboration with the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Department of Children's Services and the State Department of Education. We are dedicated to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, staff and families by investigating matters swiftly and taking appropriate action according to board policy and state law."
Dalton resigned from Blount County Schools on Sept. 29, 2023, which was shortly after the investigation began.
According to the Blount County Sheriff's Office, the charges stem from five different incidents that were caught on camera at Friendsville Elementary School and Walland Elementary School. The cases were referred to the Department of Children's Services.
According to the arrest reports, the first incident happened between Sept. 14 to Sept. 21, 2023, and was over a coach possibly touching children inappropriately at Friendsville Elementary School. Deputies began reviewing video footage and said it showed Dalton hugging a third-grade girl close to his face with both arms wrapped around her, and on one occasion stood behind her with the girl between his legs swaying back and forth while playing a game during gym class.
The second incident happened on Sept. 22, 2023, at Friendsville Elementary. Deputies said Dalton was in class and approached a student when he "scooped her down to the ground" and stood over her for a while. The report said the student followed him back into his office for a short time before she left with what appeared to be a piece of candy.
The third incident happened on Sept. 25, 2023, at Walland Elementary School. Deputies said footage showed Dalton trying to get a girl to raise her arms. He then reached to her underarms with both hands "in a tickling manner." Deputies said he reached out a second time with one hand and made contact with the chest region.
Investigators spoke with the girl on Sept. 29, saying she seemed upset. When asked, she said, "Coach Dalton just gets really close to me, too close sometimes, and makes me feel uncomfortable." She also said that Dalton was "her favorite person" and that he "just makes her feel uncomfortable at times."
The fourth incident also happened on Sept. 25, 2023, at Walland Elementary. Investigators said Dalton was seen on camera placing his arms around a student's neck and shoulders before "pulling her intimately close to his person," then placing his face directly against her face. It said it looked like Dalton kissed or tried to kiss the student on the forehead. Deputies said the student looked repulsed and "violently threw his hand off of her shoulder quickly."
The last incident that was reported also happened on Sept. 25 at Walland Elementary around 10 a.m. Deputies said video footage showed Dalton walk up behind a student in line with other students at the gym when he pulled her away. Investigators said Dalton was seen putting both of his hands on her arms down to her wrists while pulling her close to his body between his legs. The report said he then began "bouncing and shaking his body" against her. Dalton grabbed the girl a second time after she walked away making the same motions. Investigators said the child appeared "upset by this interaction" and put both of her hands in a fist on her hips.