Pulaski County teacher charged with statutory rape of student; victim’s father accused of endangerment

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Pulaski County high school teacher was charged Thursday with statutory rape and other felonies for allegedly sexually assaulting a high school student.

Hailey Clifton-Carmack, 26 and formerly a teacher at Laquey High School, was charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree statutory rape, sexual contact with a student and fourth-degree child molestation. A warrant was issued for her arrest Thursday and a $250,000 bond was set, according to court records.

The father of the victim was also charged on Thursday with first-degree child endangerment. A warrant was issued for the man’s arrest on Thursday and a $50,000 bond was set. ABC 17 News is not naming the father to protect the identity of the victim.

Clifton-Carmack is listed as a high school math teacher on the school district’s website.

Laquey R-5 Superintendent Kent Stoumbaugh wrote in a statement that Clifton-Carmack has not been with the district since Dec. 8. Stoumbaugh also said Clifton-Carmack worked at the school for about a year and a half and that this was her first teaching job.

“We have been made aware of criminal charges being filed against an employee for alleged misconduct,” the statement reads. “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 this 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 court documents, a Laquey school resource officer contacted the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office about a student who reported a sexual relationship between a teacher and a student.

The witness told law enforcement that they learned about Clifton-Carmack having sex with a student after the victim showed the witness photographs of scratches and the witness heard a phone call between the two, according to the probable cause statement.

The witness told law enforcement that Clifton-Carmack had been in trouble with school administration before for “being too close with students,” the statement says. The statement also says Stoumbaugh previously spoke to Clifton-Carmack about that subject, but only Clifton-Carmack, Stoumbaugh and the principal knew about the discussion.

Law enforcement then applied for a search warrant to look through Clifton-Carmack's phone but she did not provide the password to access the phone after getting advice from her lawyer, the statement says.

The phone was eventually accessed and law enforcement received a .PDF file on Dec. 22 that included conversations between Clifton-Carmack and the victim, the statement says. The next day, law enforcement received an anonymous tip that Clifton-Carmack was going to meet with the victim before heading to Texas.

On Wednesday, a second witness met with law enforcement and claimed the victim’s father knew of the “relationship,” the statement says. The father told the witness that students would act as “lookouts” while the teacher and victim had sex during school and that Clifton-Carmack was at their residence before heading to Texas, the statement says.

Law enforcement spoke with the father and he allegedly admitted that Clifton-Carmack was at his residence before heading to Texas.