According to police in a small Missouri town, a high school teacher allegedly had a sexual relationship with one of her students, but it wasn't a secret. The teenage boy's father reportedly knew about the relationship and allegedly didn't do anything to stop it. Now the teacher, Hailey Clifton-Carmack, 26, and the father, Mark Creighton, 37, are both facing felony charges in connection with the alleged affair.
Court documents obtained by the New York Post show that Clifton-Carmack was reportedly newly divorced when she and the 16-year-old boy began their relationship. His father allegedly told a witness he would lie for his son if he had to.
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Clifton-Carmack was reportedly adjusting to her new single life.
According to court records obtained by the Post, Clifton-Carmack's husband, Chance Carmack, filed for divorce in August 2023. According to a Facebook post on the Laquey R-5 High page, the couple shared two daughters. The former math teacher began her career at Laquey in August 2022, where she said she looked forward to "Creating opportunities for students to find success in math."
She allegedly acted inappropriately at school.
Clifton-Carmack reportedly dressed in revealing clothing at school and was showing off her body to students; a student witnesses told the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, court documents note. The witness reportedly told a school resource officer about the alleged affair on December 7, 2023, and the SRO contacted the sheriff.
The student allegedly showed photos of the teenage victim with scratch marks on his back. He reportedly got those marks during a sexual encounter with Clifton-Carmack.
The teacher and student allegedly enlisted other students to help conceal their relationship.
The witness told the sheriff's office that during the alleged relationship, Clifton-Carmack and her reported teenage victim used other students as "lookouts" to help conceal the relationship.
When police approached her on December 8, she reportedly denied the relationship. Days later, police executed a search warrant, but Clifton-Carmack allegedly fled the state to Texas to visit family.
The teenage victim's father reportedly knew and did nothing about the affair.
A witness told the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office they confronted Creighton about the affair, and the father allegedly said the pair "are going to do it behind my back, so I may as well let it happen." Additionally, the witness alleged the father allowed Clinton-Carmack to come to his home and visit his son while he was there. He allegedly said he would lie for his son if he had to.
He was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor. According to court records, he is being held on a $50,000 bond.
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The teacher is in jail and seemingly out of a job.
Police in Garden Ridge, Texas, announced Clifton-Carmack's arrest on January 5. She was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Missouri on charges of endangering the welfare of a minor, statutory rape, and sexual contact with a student. She is awaiting extradition to Missouri. She is being held on a $250,000 bond.
In a statement to ABC 17, Laquey R-5 Superintendent Kent Stoumbaugh said Clifton-Carmack has not been with the district since early December.
"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."
