A former Daly City public-school music teacher who admitted to carrying on a sexual relationship with a former student is now waiting to learn how much time he will spend in custody, if any. Prosecutors say the victim was 14 when the relationship turned sexual, and that the onetime educator is scheduled to be sentenced in February, with possible punishment ranging from probation up to 10 years and eight months behind bars.
According to prosecutors, Marcus Dyson entered no-contest pleas to a reduced list of charges that include six counts of felony sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old and eight counts of felony oral copulation on a child under 18. He remains free on a $500,000 bail bond, and the victim has filed a separate civil complaint naming both Dyson and the Bayshore Elementary School District. A San Mateo County deputy district attorney told reporters that at sentencing, Dyson could receive anything from probation up to 10 years, 8 months, and that he will be required to register as a sex offender, as reported by ABC7.
“He made me swear not to tell anyone,” the victim told reporters via ABC7, describing how she first met Dyson at age 10, and says their interactions became sexual when she reached 14. The victim and prosecutors say investigators used recorded phone confrontations to secure incriminating admissions from Dyson. Daly City police brought the case to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office in November 2023, and that is when prosecutors formally took it on.
School Oversight And The Civil Suit
In the civil case, the victim’s attorney alleges that the school district failed to properly background-check, train, monitor, and supervise Dyson, and that those claimed failures are part of what allowed the abuse to continue. The complaint remains pending. The Bayshore Elementary School District’s website outlines its complaint procedures and Title IX resources, and its public contact page lists the district office and policies for reporting concerns. For district background and contact information, see Bayshore Elementary School District. District officials have declined to offer new public comment while litigation is ongoing.
Legal Consequences And Registration
Because Dyson pleaded to felony counts, the court will address sex-offender registration and any tier assignment at sentencing. Under California law, judges decide whether and how long a defendant must register, and whether that person appears on the public Megan’s Law website. The state Department of Justice’s Megan’s Law site breaks down registration obligations, tier levels and penalties for failing to register. See California DOJ — Megan’s Law for details.
What’s Next
Dyson’s sentencing hearing was originally set for a Friday, but a court calendar conflict forced it to be moved to a date next month. Prosecutors say they reviewed allegations involving other possible victims but did not file additional criminal charges after their review.
Anyone with information for the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office can use the office’s online resources to reach prosecutors or access victim services. See the contact page at San Mateo County District Attorney.
