Former Pulaski County teacher denied release after sex offender assessment
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A former Pulaski County high school teacher who pleaded guilty in September to having sexual contact with a student was denied release following a 120-day sex offender treatment program.
Hailey Clifton-Carmack, 27, of Waynesville, was sentenced in October to four years in prison.
She was a teacher at Laquey High School and was previously charged in the case with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree statutory rape, having sexual contact with a student, fourth-degree child molestation and seven counts of misdemeanor furnishing pornographic material to a minor.
She was also sentenced to a 120-day program for treatment and assessment and was eligible for parole, if she successfully completed it. The 120-day order filed on Friday states that the “court determined it would be an abuse of discretion to release” Clifton-Carmack.
According to court documents in previous reporting, a student reported to officials that Clifton-Carmack had a sexual relationship with another student. Clifton-Carmack had been in trouble with school administration before for “being too close with students,” court documents say.
The witness also had heard a phone call between Clifton-Carmack and the youth, court documents say. Police searched Clifton-Carmack’s phone, which included conversations between her and the victim.
Clifton-Carmack fled to Texas, was arrested and was brought back to Missouri. Previous reporting shows that Clifton-Carmack has not worked for the school since Dec. 8, 2023.
