Missouri teacher pleads guilty to sex with student; father knew of relationship

Hailey Clifton-Carmack, a 26-year-old former high school maths teacher in Missouri, pleaded guilty to felony sexual contact with a 16-year-old student. She admitted to having sex with the student while other students served as "lookouts" during school hours. The student's father knew about the relationship between the teacher and his son. Instead of informing the authorities, he covered up the situation.

Clifton-Carmack, a divorced mother of two, faces up to four years in prison and will remain on house arrest until her sentencing on October 11. The incident occurred at Laquey High School in Missouri last year.

The teacher was arrested in January after a student witness reported their illicit relationship to a school resource officer. The student witness also showed police a photo of the scratches Clifton-Carmack left on the victim's back, which were allegedly caused during a sexual encounter in the witness's driveway.

The teacher also often wore revealing clothing, like low-cut shirts and tight leggings, according to the New York Post.

Also, the student witness told Detective Sergeant Bryan Gibbs, per a probable cause statement, that Clifton-Carmack “had openly discussed her personal life with the class", according to People.

Clifton-Carmack initially denied the relationship when questioned by detectives on December 8, 2023. However, police seized her phone and discovered text messages revealing her inappropriate relationship with the student.

The student's father, Mark Creighton, was also arrested in January for allegedly failing to report the teacher's actions after being informed by another witness. Court documents reveal that Creighton admitted to knowing about the sexual relationship and allowed it to continue.

Prosecutors stated that Creighton "was aware of the relationship between his minor child and the 26-year-old teacher, yet chose to cover for them and allow the relationship to persist."

Additionally, Creighton reportedly told a witness that he would lie on behalf of his son if necessary.