Former Carson High School teacher accused of sex with student waives preliminary hearing

A former Carson High School teacher accused of sexual conduct with a former student waived her preliminary hearing in justice court Thursday morning.

Jennifer Dalton, 35, will be arraigned in district court at 9 a.m. April 2.

The sheriff’s office was called Aug. 31, 2011, to the high school to look into “inappropriate activities by a female teacher with a 17-year-old male student,” Sheriff Ken Furlong told the Nevada Appeal at the time.

The criminal complaint alleges Dalton had sexual conduct with the student while she was an English teacher at Carson High in 2011. She was placed on administrative leave with pay Sept. 1, 2011, and resigned Nov. 7, 2011, Superintendent Richard Stokes told the Appeal in 2012.

A warrant was issued for Dalton’s arrest Oct. 23 of last year, and she turned herself in the next day.

The offense carries a penalty of one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Dalton will not have to register as a sex offender if found guilty.

If she were to be convicted, the Nevada Department of Education would file a petition to have her teaching license revoked because of both the felony conviction and also the nature of the offense. The petition would go through the Attorney General’s office and the final decision would be made by the State Board of Education, according to the Office of Teacher Licensure under the Nevada Department of Education.