PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. – A Waynesville, Missouri, teacher will be sentenced in October for having a sexual relationship with a student.
According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department probable cause statement, Hailey Clifton-Carmack, age not provided, engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student in 2023.
Police said a witness reported the relationship to a school resource officer in December 2023.
The witness learned about their relationship after the victim showed photographs of his back with scratches. The victim told the witness that the scratches were from Clifton-Carmack after having sexual intercourse with her in the witness’s driveaway.
The witness also shared hearing a phone conversation between Clifton-Carmack. The victim said that it was his birthday, and she replied, stating that though she was out of state, she would send him money.
The student witness shared with police that Clifton-Carmack was reportedly “too friendly” and would dress inappropriately at school. Police said the witness recalled her wearing tight or low-cut shirts and tight leggings.
According to police, the witness said Clifton-Carmack would openly discuss her personal life with the class and reportedly got in trouble with school administration for being “too close with students.” The Laquey Schools superintendent verified this with police and said Clifton-Carmack was spoken to about the issue.
The probable cause statement said an officer made contact with Clifton-Carmack at Laquey Schools to seize her phone via a search warrant. Clifton-Carmack denied having any kind of relationship with any students outside of school and further denied having contact with the victim outside of school.
Police said Clifton-Carmack’s phone revealed conversations between her and the victim discussing their relationship.
When police met with an additional witness who revealed the victim’s father knew about their sexual relationship. The father shared with the witness that Clifton-Carmack had been to their home prior to visiting Texas for the holidays in December 2023.
According to the probable cause statement, she had not returned to Missouri as of Jan. 3, 2023. Individuals Clifton-Carmack has previously been living with in Missouri were not sure of her return to the state and told police she had moved to Texas to live with family.
Texas police arrested Clifton-Carmack in January 2024. She was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child in first-degree, second-degree statutory rape, sexual contact with a student, fourth-degree child molestation, and seven counts of furnishing pornographic material to a minor.
Clifton-Carmack pleaded guilty on September 6 to sexual contact with a student. She’s currently on house arrest while awaiting a sentencing hearing on October 11.
