Current:Home > NewsMissouri dad knew his teen son was having sex with teacher, official say. Now he's charged. -ChatGPT
Missouri dad knew his teen son was having sex with teacher, official say. Now he's charged.
View
Date:2025-04-20 04:55:27
A Missouri father has been arrested after authorities say he allowed his 16-year-old son to have sex with his high school teacher over at least a two-month period late last year, newly released court records show.
Police arrested the 36-year-old father on Jan. 4 on one count of endangering the welfare of a child, saying he knew about the sex and that the two were using other students as their lookouts, according to Pulaski County Criminal Court records obtained by USA TODAY.
USA TODAY is not naming the father to protect his son's identity.
Meanwhile the teacher, 26-year-old Hailey Clifton-Carmack, was arrested in Texas after fleeing Missouri, according to a Monday Facebook post by police in Garden Ridge, just outside of San Antonio.
Clifton-Carmack was a math teacher at Laquey High School in the unincorporated community of Laquey, about 75 miles south of the state capital, Jefferson City.
She faces charges of statutory rape, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual contact with a student and child molestation. USA TODAY was working to track down Clifton-Carmack's attorney, if she has one.
'Scratches down his back'
According to the arrest warrants in the case, the alleged crimes took place from Nov. 1 through Dec. 23 when the victim was 16.
Pulaski County Sheriff's Department detectives learned about the allegations when a witness came forward and told authorities that the 16-year-old boy had shown them photographs of scratches down his back and said that they were from his teacher "after they had sex in her driveway," charging documents show.
The teen told the witness that he was the reason for his teacher's divorce, and said they had overheard them speaking intimately on the phone. In addition, the affidavit continues, the witness said the teacher is “too friendly with students and sometimes will dress inappropriately at school," often "openly discussed her personal life in class," and at one point got in trouble with the administration for "being too close with students."
When detectives visited the school on Dec. 8 to serve a search warrant on the suspect's phone, charging documents show, Clifton-Carmack denied having any kind of relationship with the boy.
'Giving her test answers':High school teacher accused of inappropriate sexual relationship
Teacher 'used students as lookouts'
As the investigation unfolded, on Dec. 23, detectives reported they got a tip the teacher was traveling to Texas but planned to visit the boy before she left town.
On Jan 3, another witness met with detectives and said they had been to the boy's home and spoke with his father, who said he knew the teacher and his son "have been in a sexual relationship and have used students as lookouts while they had sex during school."
When the witness told the boy's father they were going to police with the information, the complaint continues, "he responded by telling her they are going to do it behind my back so I may as well let it happen."
The report goes on to say he told her he would "lie for his son if he had to."
When detectives spoke to the father, he reportedly acknowledged that the teacher had been at their home before she left for Texas.
Timeline of warrants, arrests
Clifton-Carmack had not returned from Texas by Jan. 3, and people living at her registered Missouri address told detectives that she had moved to the state to be with family and did not know if she planned to return.
A warrant was issued for her arrest the next day, the same day the teen's father was arrested and booked into the county jail in Waynesville, Missouri.
And the day after that on Jan. 5, Garden Ridge police in Texas say they were contacted about Clifton-Carmack, whom they described as "a fugitive from justice who was suspected of fleeing the state of Missouri," according to their Facebook post.
Clifton-Carmack was subsequently arrested and was still in custody in Texas as of Wednesday, a Comal County jail spokesperson told USA TODAY.
The teen's father was released on a $50,000 bond and is due in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 5. USA TODAY has been unable to reach him.
District: 'The alleged misconduct is inexcusable'
The Laquey RF School District could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY on Wednesday.
But, according to KRCG-TV, Superintendent Kent Stoumbaugh said the district was aware of the case, "took immediate action" and that the teacher has not been in the district since Dec. 8, the same day detectives visited the school to look through the teen's phone.
"We do not anticipate her return," the superintendent wrote in a statement released to the outlet. "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."
If convicted of felony child endangerment, prosecutors said, the boy's father faces up to 10 years in prison. Clifton-Carmack faces up to 25 years behind bars if convicted of all four charges.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Jayson Boebert facing charges:Lauren Boebert's ex-husband arrested after reported fight
veryGood! (8132)
Related
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Romantic Weekend Includes Wedding and U.S. Open Dates
- Her father listened as she was shot in the head at Taco Bell. What he wants you to know.
- MLB trade deadline revisited: Dodgers pulled off heist to get new bullpen ace
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Takeaways from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s response to violence after George Floyd’s murder
- Rap megastar Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
- ‘The Room Next Door’ wins top prize at Venice Film Festival
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- In their tennis era, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce cheer at U.S. Open final
Ranking
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Brandon Sanderson's next Stormlight Archive book is coming. New fans should start elsewhere
- Dream Kardashian, 7, Makes Runway Modeling Debut at New York Fashion Week
- A 14-year-old boy is charged with killing 4 people at his Georgia high school. Here’s what we know
- Average rate on 30
- Cowboys QB Dak Prescott becomes highest-paid player in NFL history with new contract
- DirecTV files complaint against Disney with FCC as impasse enters 2nd week
- Tom Brady's NFL broadcasting career is finally starting. What should fans expect?
Recommendation
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Cowabunga! New England town celebrates being the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
After 26 years, a Border Patrol agent has a new role: helping migrants
Elton John unveils new documentary and shares what he wants on his tombstone
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Demi Moore on 'The Substance' and that 'disgusting' Dennis Quaid shrimp scene
Caitlin Clark on Angel Reese's season-ending wrist injury: 'It's definitely devastating'
Who are Sunday's NFL starting quarterbacks? Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels to make debut