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Judge Hyatt pronounced sentence at the conclusion of a 90-minute hearing held in the Haywood County Courthouse. Hopper, who had been free under a $65,000 bond since his Feb. 1 release from the Jackson County Jail, was immediately taken into custody.
During the hearing, Judge Hyatt examined documents provided by Hopper's attorney, Roy Patton of Waynesville, and heard testimony from two witnesses on Hopper's behalf. She also received victim impact statements from Hopper's daughter and estranged wife.
SMHS Principal Kenny Nicholson told the court Hopper had been well thought of during his three years at the high school. The first inkling otherwise came when law enforcement personnel arrived at the school Nov. 28 to arrest the biology teacher.
"(Hopper) was an excellent teacher who got along well with students," Nicholson said. "His students scored well on state tests, and his reputation prior to November was excellent."
Nicholson testified that there was never any indication of any improper conduct by Hopper at school or with any students other than Hopper's daughter, a 2002 SMHS graduate.
"If (Hopper's) guilty, he needs to be punished," Nicholson said. "He's a good teacher with skills and abilities that can be used to help others in prison or wherever he is."
Main Street businessman Livingston Kelley told the court he has known Hopper since the former teacher moved to Jackson County from Louisiana about 10 years ago. Hopper, a photographer, was a frequent customer in Kelley's photography store.
Kelley invited Hopper to Bible study at Sylva Presbyterian Church and offered him a place to live after he was released on bond, Kelley said. In return, Hopper worked for Kelley doing computer photo restoration on a contract basis.
Kelley testified that he had observed Hopper with Hopper's daughters and had been impressed by the "very sweet spirit" between Hopper and the girls.
Patton then spoke for his client, citing the statement Hopper made to this newspaper following his guilty plea.
In that statement, Hopper stated his "aberration" only involved his older daughter and that his daughter was "in no way responsible" for what he had done. Hopper also said he "never violated the trust given (him) as a teacher."
Hopper made that statement, Patton said, because Hopper wanted his daughter and everyone else to know she was not responsible and out of concern for his former students.
Hopper, though he committed a terrible act, can be rehabilitated, Patton told the judge.
"It's the kind of case we don't see all the time," Patton said. "Some are not fit to be saved, and the best thing is to lock them away.
"Nathan is one who can be rehabilitated. He's not saying 'don't punish me' but asking reasonableness and perhaps credit for good things rather than prison for the next 12, 13 or 14 years."
Speaking in his own behalf, Hopper made a dramatic statement during which he expressed remorse and apologized to his daughter, who was visibly shaken by his words.
"I took advantage of a sacred trust and used that trust for my own perverted selfishness," Hopper said. "I stand before the court broken and repentant - broken because of the realization that my daughter is suffering.
"To my family and community, there are no accurate words of apology to explain my grief and shame," Hopper said.
Patton made a final plea to the judge for leniency for his client.
"I never have believed sticking Nathan in prison was the solution - that's a solution for evil people - people who would prey on society," Patton said.
Whether or not Hopper feels remorse is not the issue before the court, said Assistant District Attorney Monica Leslie.
"We're here to discuss what happened to (Hopper's daughter)," said Leslie. "Here's a little girl who loved her father and dreaded every night - him coming into her bedroom, taking advantage, touching her.
"She was carrying fear, guilt, shame and anger. Her parents were respected members of the community. Her father was a well-loved teacher, so she pretended nothing had happened," Leslie said. "Only she knew that a man so respected during the day took advantage of her at night."
The victim has demonstrated "courage and bravery far beyond her years" and came forward for "the most unselfish of reasons - love for her little sister," Leslie said.
"She noticed things between her father and sister, who was the same age she was (when the abuse began)," Leslie said.
Leslie, who asked Judge Hyatt to sentence Hopper to an active prison term to be followed by sex offender treatment and probation, expressed satisfaction with the sentence.
"We were pleased with the outcome, though justice is never really served in these cases since the victim has to live with the consequences the rest of her life," Leslie said. "But we're happy with the sentence Judge Hyatt handed down and hope the victim can now begin to heal."
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Hopper