Defendant Convicted of Stalking Teacher

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Domestic Violence Unit obtained convictions against a defendant who stalked his child’s teacher.  Derrick Jerome Garland, 36, was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Stalking and Violation of a Protective Order.  Judge Kyle Hixson revoked Garland’s bond and set the case for sentencing on December 10.

In a two-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Christy Smith and Sean Deitrick explained to the jury that the victim was a schoolteacher of Garland’s child.  Garland began stalking and harassing the victim, causing her to seek an Order of Protection which was granted on April 23, 2020.  On August 21, 2020, Garland violated the Order of Protection by coming to the victim’s workplace.  The victim received a message that she had a visitor at the school office.  When she went to the office, she found Garland waiting for her.  When she fled back inside the school, Garland said he would be waiting for her outside.  Knoxville Police Department Officer Stephen Henderson responded and found Garland in the school parking lot.  After making bond for that case, Garland again violated the Order of Protection on November 19, 2020, when he came back to the school.  This time, school security called KPD, and Garland fled when police arrived.

Aggravated Stalking is a Class E felony that carries a punishment between one and two years. Violation of a Protective Order is a Class A misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to eleven months and twenty-nine days.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.