Swain County -- August 4, 2026: A Swain County man has been sentenced to multiple consecutive prison terms after being convicted on four felony counts related to North Carolina's sex offender registration requirements.
According to the Swain County Sheriff's Office, a Swain County Superior Court jury found Dylan William Hoyt guilty on July 30 of four felony counts of failing to register as a sex offender.
Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers sentenced Hoyt to 21 to 35 months in prison for each conviction. Because the sentences are to be served consecutively, Hoyt faces a combined prison term of at least seven years and up to 11 years and eight months in the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Court records indicate the four offenses occurred on Dec. 4, 2024, and were each classified as Class F felonies. The court also determined Hoyt had seven prior record points, placing him at Prior Record Level III under North Carolina's structured sentencing guidelines.
In a separate ruling issued the same day, Judge Sellers revoked Hoyt's probation in connection with a previous conviction for third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The court activated a previously suspended prison sentence of six to eight months after finding Hoyt had willfully violated the conditions of his probation.
Hoyt was credited with 15 days already served in confinement.
The court also addressed four additional probation matters tied to suspended judgments entered in October 2012. After determining Hoyt had willfully violated the terms of his probation, the court ordered probation terminated in each of those cases.
As part of the sentencing, the court recommended that Hoyt participate in any available sex offender treatment programs while incarcerated and also recommended him for work release, if eligible under Department of Adult Correction policies.
Court records further indicate Hoyt has filed notices of appeal in three of the four felony convictions for failing to register as a sex offender.