A female teacher in South Carolina who groomed a same-sex student, aged 12, for a sexual relationship won’t serve any time in prison for her crime. Allison Chilton pleaded guilty to charges of criminal solicitation of a minor and third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and was given 10 years in prison, a sentence that was suspended in lieu of five years of probation, WCSC reports.
- Chilton was a language arts and math teacher at Oakbrook Middle School in Ladson. However, she quit her position at the school in January 2018 following her arrest. The 27-year-old taught special education students at the school.
- She was reported by the student’s father. The victim’s father filed a report with Dorchester County Sheriffs in January after discovering text messages on his daughter’s phone which indicated the pair were engaged in a sexual relationship. One message from Chilton is said to have read “I want to be your wife” with another reading “I just want to hold you,” according to the Post and Courier.
- The victim’s father believed the relationship was ongoing. He told authorities that he believed the inappropriate relationship between his daughter and Chilton began the previous year when the child was in Chilton’s class. He also revealed that his daughter had been meeting with Chilton privately in her classroom for “extra help.”
- It’s unclear exactly how far their relationship went. Chilton admitted to police that she had “open-mouth kissed” the 12-year-old and that they had indeed exchanged texts regarding a sexual relationship. However, it’s unclear if their physical relationship went further.
- While Chilton has escaped jail, she has to meet other conditions. In addition to joining the sex offenders registry, Chilton also has to wear a GPS monitor and is subject to a permanent restraining order preventing her from having any contact with the victim. She must successfully complete her five-year probationary period or she’ll be sent to jail.
