PULASKI COUNTY, MO - A female teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 16-year-old male student has been sentenced. The teacher, 26-year-old Hailey Clifton-Carmack, was sentenced to four years in prison.
According to reports, Clifton-Carmack is a divorced mother of two and was the math teacher at Laquey High School. She pleaded guilty back to the charges against her in September and was sentenced on Friday, October 11th. The charges against her were endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree statutory rape, and fourth-degree child molestation. Those charges were dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea.
Circuit Judge John Beger ordered the former math teacher to complete a sex-offender rehabilitation program, saying that he plans to check on her behavior and progress in 90 days. If Clifton-Carmack does well, her sentence could be suspended and she would be put on probation instead of serving prison time.
Clifton-Carmack was arrested back in January after her relationship with the 16-year-old was reported to a school resource officer by another student. The student who reported the incident showed authorities images of the victim's scratched back. The former math teacher was accused of abusing the victim in the witness' driveway. The witness also told authorities that Clifton-Carmack had been disciplined by school officials previously for getting too close to students.
She was initially questioned about having a relationship with the teenage boy in December 2023, but denied it when questioned by the police. The 26-year-old left for Texas for the holidays and allegedly told her roommates that she would not be returning. She was then located in Texas in January and taken into custody before being extradited back to Missouri.
The victim's father, Mark Creighton, was also arrested for endangering the welfare of a child after a separate witness told police that he was aware that the 26-year-old teacher was sexually abusing his son and did not report it. Court documents show that Creighton knew the victim and Clifton-Carmack used other students as "lookouts" while she sexually abused him during school hours.
Prosecutors allege that Creighton "knew of the relationship of this minor child and the 26-year-old teacher, and instead of reporting the information, he continued to cover fro them and allowed the relationship to continue." The victim's father "even allowed Hailey to come over to his residence and see the victim while he was present," as noted by the prosecutors. Creighton also allegedly told a witness that he would lie for his son if necessary.
According to reports, in a statement after Clifton-Carmack was arrested, Laquey R-5 Superintendent Kent Stoumbaugh said, "We have been made aware of criminal charges being filed against an employee for alleged misconduct. We understand that charges are not the same as a conviction and the employee is to be considered innocent until proven guilty. We must stress, however, that the alleged misconduct is inexcusable and does not meet the professional standards for district employees.
The district took immediate action once we were aware of the situation. An investigation is ongoing. The employee has not been in the district since December 8, 2023, and we do not anticipate her return. We strive to ensure that every individual is treated with respect, kindness, and fairness, so that all feel safe, secure, and welcomed in our schools."
According to reports, Clifton-Carmack is a divorced mother of two and was the math teacher at Laquey High School. She pleaded guilty back to the charges against her in September and was sentenced on Friday, October 11th. The charges against her were endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree statutory rape, and fourth-degree child molestation. Those charges were dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea.
Circuit Judge John Beger ordered the former math teacher to complete a sex-offender rehabilitation program, saying that he plans to check on her behavior and progress in 90 days. If Clifton-Carmack does well, her sentence could be suspended and she would be put on probation instead of serving prison time.
Clifton-Carmack was arrested back in January after her relationship with the 16-year-old was reported to a school resource officer by another student. The student who reported the incident showed authorities images of the victim's scratched back. The former math teacher was accused of abusing the victim in the witness' driveway. The witness also told authorities that Clifton-Carmack had been disciplined by school officials previously for getting too close to students.
She was initially questioned about having a relationship with the teenage boy in December 2023, but denied it when questioned by the police. The 26-year-old left for Texas for the holidays and allegedly told her roommates that she would not be returning. She was then located in Texas in January and taken into custody before being extradited back to Missouri.
The victim's father, Mark Creighton, was also arrested for endangering the welfare of a child after a separate witness told police that he was aware that the 26-year-old teacher was sexually abusing his son and did not report it. Court documents show that Creighton knew the victim and Clifton-Carmack used other students as "lookouts" while she sexually abused him during school hours.
Prosecutors allege that Creighton "knew of the relationship of this minor child and the 26-year-old teacher, and instead of reporting the information, he continued to cover fro them and allowed the relationship to continue." The victim's father "even allowed Hailey to come over to his residence and see the victim while he was present," as noted by the prosecutors. Creighton also allegedly told a witness that he would lie for his son if necessary.
According to reports, in a statement after Clifton-Carmack was arrested, Laquey R-5 Superintendent Kent Stoumbaugh said, "We have been made aware of criminal charges being filed against an employee for alleged misconduct. We understand that charges are not the same as a conviction and the employee is to be considered innocent until proven guilty. We must stress, however, that the alleged misconduct is inexcusable and does not meet the professional standards for district employees.
The district took immediate action once we were aware of the situation. An investigation is ongoing. The employee has not been in the district since December 8, 2023, and we do not anticipate her return. We strive to ensure that every individual is treated with respect, kindness, and fairness, so that all feel safe, secure, and welcomed in our schools."
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Comments
2024-10-31T01:56-0400 | Comment by: Larry
Makes me wonder what is wrong with these women nowadays. You'd think she would want a man who would know how to please her. Boys age 16 are lucky to last 10 minutes before popping off and rolling over and going to sleep. She and others like her really need to find REAL men!
2024-10-31T16:02-0400 | Comment by: James
Hey teach .... I'm a little school boy too ....