26-year-old teacher who used other students as ‘lookouts’ while sexually abusing boy sentenced

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (WKRC) – A teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a student was sentenced last Friday.

Accordingly The New York PostHailey Clifton-Carmack, 26, of Waynesville, Missouri, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a 16-year-old student while others acted as “lookouts.”

The publication reported that Clifton-Carmack, a divorced mother of two and former math teacher at Laquey High School, pleaded guilty to the charges back in September.

KJLU reported that charges of endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree statutory rape and fourth-degree child molestation were dismissed in exchange for her plea.

According to the station, District Judge John Beger ordered Clifton-Carmack to complete a sex offender rehabilitation program and said he would review her behavior and progress in 90 days. The judge said if Clifton-Carmack was well, her sentence could be suspended and she could be sent on probation.

The post reported that Clifton-Carmack was arrested back in January after her relationship with the teen was reported to a school resource officer by another student, who showed authorities pictures of the victim’s scratched back.

According to the publication, the former math teacher was accused of abusing the victim in the witness’s driveway. The witness also told authorities that Clifton-Carmack had previously been disciplined by school officials for getting too close to students The post, It reported that when questioned by police in December 2023, she initially denied having a relationship with the victim.

The 26-year-old traveled to Texas for the holidays and reportedly told her roommates that she wouldn’t be returning The postciting a report from authorities. Clifton-Carmack was located a month later in Texas and taken into custody before being returned to Missouri, KJLU reported.

According to The Post, the victim’s father, Mark Creighton, was also arrested for endangering the welfare of a child after another witness told authorities he knew the 26-year-old teacher had sexually abused his son and did not report it .

Citing court documents, the publication reported that Creighton knew the victim and Clifton-Carmack used other students as a “lookout” while she sexually abused him during school hours.

According to the release, prosecutors alleged that Creighton “knew about the relationship between his minor child and the 26-year-old teacher and instead of reporting the information, he continued to advocate for her and allowed the relationship to continue.” The victim’s father “permitted.” Hailey even to come to his apartment and see the victim while he was present,” prosecutors said The post.

Creighton allegedly told a witness that he would lie for his son if necessary, the publication reported.