Police in Texas have arrested a female Missouri teacher-turned-fugitive who was accused of having a sexual relationship with an underage student — allegedly with the knowledge and approval of the boy’s father.
Garden Ridge police said that they arrested Hailey Nichelle Clifton-Carmack, 26, last week on an outstanding warrant for statutory rape, child molestation and other charges after authorities in Missouri said they believed she had fled to the San Antonio area.
Ms. Clifton-Cormack was booked into the Comal County Jail on a $250,000 bond. She awaits extradition back to her home state as of Wednesday.
The suspect is a math teacher at Laquey High School in Laquey, Missouri.
Court documents said that one of Ms. Clifton-Carmack’s students first reported the incident in early December. The filing said the boy and the teacher had sex in the driveway of a witness’ home, and the boy was left with scratches on his back afterward.
The suspect denied the accusations when confronted by police on Dec. 8.
Court documents said authorities confiscated her phone at that time, but couldn’t access the device until they had secured a warrant two weeks later. Detectives found messages confirming the relationship once they could review the phone.
However, the filing said, Ms. Clifton-Carmack had relocated to be with family in Texas by then as she had recently finalized her divorce.
She was arrested after being on the run for two weeks.
Police said they charged the boy’s father, Mark Creighton, on Jan. 3 with endangering child welfare for condoning the illegal relationship.
Court documents in his case said that Mr. Creighton knew his son had sex with Ms. Clifton-Carmack during school hours — and that they even had students serve as lookouts so they could get away with it.
Prosecutors accuse the father of allowing Ms. Clifton-Carmack to come to his home and see his son as well.
The filings said Mr. Creighton told one witness that they “are going to do it behind my back, so I may as well let it happen.”
Mr. Creighton is being held on a $50,000 bond. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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