A maths teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student was discovered after police noticed scratch marks on the boy’s back.
Hailey Clifton-Carmack, 26, from Missouri, confessed to sleeping with the teenager after wearing “tight leggings and low-cut tops to show off her body”, according to court documents.
The teacher at Laquey High School could face up to four years in prison and is currently under house arrest until sentencing. Allegations emerged in December when a classmate showed authorities pictures of scratch marks on the victim’s body.
Clifton-Carmack denied any relationships with students outside of school and fled to her family home in Texas.
However, she was apprehended by the Garden Ridge Police Department in January on charges including sexual contact with a student, second-degree statutory rape, endangering the welfare of a child, and child molestation.
Police discovered text messages on Clifton-Carmack’s phone that appeared to reveal her alleged relationship with the minor. The illicit affair even occurred during school hours, with fellow students allegedly serving as “lookouts”, court documents read.
A plea deal was agreed upon by the defendant, admitting to having sex in exchange for dropping the other charges.
Mark Creighton, the victim’s father, reportedly knew about the inappropriate relationship but failed to report it to the authorities.
The father is alleged to have continued to shield them and “even allowed the accused to come over to his residence and see the victim while he was present”, according to court proceedings. He has now been charged with child endangerment.
Creighton reportedly told prosecutors: “[They] are going to do it behind my back, so I may as well let it happen.”
Prosecutor Kevin S. Hillman stated that he has “agreed to assist the State and testify if needed”, but disclosed that his case will be paused until the teacher’s sentencing.
District Superintendent Kent Stoumbaugh declared: “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 this situation. The employee has not been in the district since December 8, 2023, and we do not anticipate her return.”
This was Clifton-Carmack’s first teaching position, which she had held for a year and a half.
