Dinkins Surrenders to Police, Faces Multiple Felony Charges
The former choral director for William Tennent was unable to post 10 percent of the $800,000 bail and has been sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility.
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Former William Tennent choral director Tyrone Dinkins has been charged with two felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor and several misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors, indecent assault and harassment during an arraignment hearing Tuesday afternoon at the Warminster district court.
District Judge Daniel Finello set bail at $800,000, but Dinkins was unable to post a 10 percent bond and has been sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility. If he is able to post bail, Dinkins must stay away from all high school facilities and events and can only be around his three children under adult supervision, per the court's orders.
A preliminary hearing has been tentatively set for August 10.
The criminal investigation began in early June when a 16 year-old William Tennent student contacted the Warminster Police Department and reported that Dinkins had touched her buttocks more than five times since March, including one incident when he grabbed and twisted her bra, according to an affidavit.
Police interviewed seven more students, ranging from ages 16 to 19 years old, who described similar instances where Dinkins would hug or pinch them or slap their buttocks, make lewd comments and jokes and send them personal text messages, the affidavit said.
During an interview with the arresting officer, Dinkins admitted to flirting with female students, mouthing "olive juice," which can look like "I love you," or another suggestive phrase. He also told the officer that he patted and slapped female students' buttocks and pinched them, including a student's breast, according to the officer's statement.
Read the arrest affidavit in the .pdf section of this article.
Julia
9:19 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Honestly, everybody needs to calm down. I'm a student at Tennent, and i think everunody is blowing it out of proportion. I never had Dinkins as a teacher but I've had some brief conversations with him, and even from that I could tell he was/is a nice guy. I am a Christian and i do understand where some people are coming from, but in my mind he was a fun teacher. He was the teacher who would joke around.In my opinion what he "admitted" to was NOT sexual in any context. He was active in school and many of my friends and peers looked up to him.
I pray for him and hope to God this one mistake/miscommunication does not ruin his career. I say we should hold a fundraiser to help him post bail! The trial is not til the 10th, so he is INNOCENT until PROVEN guilty!!! Look at the constitution people! Good lick Dinkins, I feel for ya!
Ashley
2:07 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
uhm, i'm not sure if you fully read the article. he admitted to inappropriately touching students breast and butt, and if you feel that's not sexual then I'm not sure what is. I graduated from Tennent this year and one of my friends was one of his victims, and for people to be sticking up for him after he admits to doing such things makes me absolutely sick.
Diane
2:22 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Freduian slip Julia "Good lick?"
nic
9:37 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Whether or not he's a 'nice guy' you should know better then that to say suggestive things to any MINOR and that you never touch them especially their butts or their breasts.
Concerned Resident
3:36 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
How do we access the pdf for this article?
Mary Alice Brancato
6:03 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Just click on the picture of the PDF above.
HONEST MOM
6:26 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
All sexual predators are "nice guys." Sexual predators gain the trust of their victims first! No one is saying he wasn't a good music teacher but the FACTS remain that he did sexually harass and touch students in a sexual way. He admits that. He admits that he did verbally harass students in a sexual way. THAT IS NOT OKAY! He knew what he was doing was wrong and he used his position in the school to gain access to vulnerable children!
I feel badly for all that looked up to this man. I feel badly for all that trusted this man. He had no right to betray that admiration and trust but I am so thankful that he did not hurt more of you in a sexual way. Sadly some were not as fortunate!
An adult kissing a child's neck is sexual! An adult touching a child on or near their intimate parts is sexual! An adult saying things to a child that involve their intimate parts and discussing their intimate parts is sexual!
A fundraiser to help a child molester? That is appalling!!!
The victims are the ones who need our compassion. The children and wife of the molester need our compassion. The parents of the children molested are the ones who need our compassion. The molester???? He will get no compassion from me!!!! I can only hope and pray this disgusting man gets exactly what he deserves!
B. Hoffman
4:01 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Well Said! I had Mr. Dinkins in high school and the way students followed him was almost cult-like. He was a great teacher and well respected. It is appalling that he used that power to exploit young girls. I am currently a teacher (not in centennial) and cannot imagine ever touching a child in a way that could be misconstrued as inappropriate. He was well aware of what he was doing and should receive no sympathy from the public.
Concerned Resident
7:23 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Now, I am physically nauseous which is much less than these poor girls have been through & will continue to suffer. The fact that my child looked up to this man as a musical mentor & that we met with him for college advice numerous times is blowing my mind & I work with victims & perpetrators of sexual abuse as a therapist, but I guess since this is the closest it has come out public near my child is freaking me out personally. I am glad he is sitting in jail. I pray for all involved.
Joe
5:23 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Good, professional teachers don't go around pinching, grabbing, touching and texting suggestive things to their students! He admitted doing most of what he was accused of and still gets more support than the victims! I hope these girls recover as these are serious offenses.
southampton parent
7:31 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I applaud the girls for being strong and coming forth to get this teacher out of our school.
Brenda
2:05 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
These people should all be executed in my mind! perverts...preying on innocent children! !
Alexis
9:47 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
I agree with Julia
hongfeng
9:39 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
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