Former first-grade teacher pleads guilty to sex crimes against teen student after she allegedly admitted affair to husband



A former first-grade teacher in Washington state has pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual misconduct with a teen, according to authorities.

Mackenzie Naught, 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual misconduct involving a minor on Friday, according to the Spokesman-Review. Naught is being held at the Whitman County Jail without bail, according to records.

The teen told police Naught was 'being flirty.'

KREM-TV reported that Naught, of St. John, faces a jail sentence of six months to a year under Washington State's Adult Sentencing Guidelines. Naught will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Naught avoided the maximum prison punishment by several years.

According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor is a Class C felony in the state of Washington, which is punishable by a maximum of five years' imprisonment and/or a fine of $10,000

A sexual assault protection order for five years has been issued for the teen who was subjected to the sexual misconduct.

The Whitman County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said Naught will be sentenced Aug. 28.

According to KREM, Whitman County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Tessa Scholl stated:

The defendant's guilty plea represents an important step in holding her accountable for her actions and spares John Doe the burden of having to testify at trial. Our office remains committed to supporting John Doe and his family throughout the remainder of the judicial process.

The Spokesman-Review reported in May that Naught had been teaching at St. John Elementary since September, and the 16-year-old student was a junior at St. John-Endicott High School.

As Blaze News previously reported, Naught was arrested May 10.

The Whitman County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that police "received information about an alleged inappropriate relationship between a student and the employee."

"Following an initial investigation, deputies developed probable cause supporting the allegations," the statement said.

RELATED: Female ex-middle school teacher, already facing grooming charges, arrested again on new felony sex crime charge

The Spokesman-Review previously obtained court records saying Naught's husband informed police on May 9 that his wife of four years had confessed to him that she had sex with a teen on one occasion.

Court documents said the husband provided screenshots to authorities to prove his wife had been sexually active with the teenager.

The Spokesman-Review reported that the husband told police he had known the boy for years and was friends with the teen's family.

Naught initially informed deputies that she never had sex with the minor, according to court records.

The teen told police Naught was "being flirty" and that she attempted to persuade him to meet her, court docs said.

The minor said he initially felt weird about meeting Naught but eventually decided to see the teacher.

"He picked her up at about 2:15 a.m. in his truck down the street from her house," the Spokesman-Review reported. "She asked him where the 'little spot' was they could go, he told deputies."

The news outlet reported that "she suddenly kissed him." The teen claimed Naught began to "get handsy," and they had sex inside his truck and in the bed of the truck, according to court documents.

The Spokesman-Review, citing court documents, noted that Naught said she knew the boy was 16 but that he is "like one of their friends."

Court records revealed that Naught apologized and admitted she knew the situation was wrong and instructed the teen not to tell anyone.

Court records the Spokesman-Review obtained revealed that Naught’s husband filed for divorce in June.

KREM reported that St. John-Endicott Cooperative Schools Superintendent Tina Strong stated in May, "The district is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities and will also be conducting its own investigation into the allegations."

Naught is not listed in the staff directory for St. John-Endicott Cooperative Schools.

The school district did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

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19-year-old thug who shot a dad defending his daughter from bullies is sentenced



A 19-year-old male who last year shot a father defending his daughter from bullies was sentenced Wednesday, WBRZ-TV reported.

Jerry Huggins initially was charged with attempted first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon in connection with the March 2025 shooting of Corey Breaux, who said he went outside to protect his daughter from a group of teenagers who were bullying her, the station said.

'At the very least the individual should have received life.'

Video shows Breaux approaching the group when Huggins pulled a gun and opened fire.

Breaux was shot three times, leaving him with significant injuries, WBRZ added.

"This gentleman was doing nothing wrong," Baton Rouge Police Information Officer Saundra Watts told the station following the shooting. "He was trying to defend his daughter against a bunch of bullies who were out there terrorizing his daughter, so he stood up. He did the right thing, but unfortunately this teen took it upon himself to shoot this man in front of his daughter."

However, Huggins on Monday pleaded guilty to lesser charges — aggravated second-degree battery and illegal use of weapons, WBRZ said.

On Wednesday, Huggins was sentenced to 13 years in prison, the station reported.

Huggins received 11 years for the aggravated battery charge and two years for the illegal use of weapons charge, and he was credited for time served, WBRZ said.

The following video report aired prior to Huggins' sentence.

RELATED: 18-year-old thug allegedly guns down 40-year-old mom as she protects her son amid Facebook Marketplace purchase gone wrong

A number of people responding to WBRZ's Facebook post about the sentence and reduced charges were none too pleased:

  • "Only 13 years not even close to being enough time," one commenter said.
  • "This slap on the wrist about to cause more problems in the BIG RAGGEDY!" another user wrote. "You can't whoop your kids — if you do, you go to jail; now you can shoot a man defending his daughter three times and only get 13 years. R.I.D.I.C.U.L.O.U.S. ..."
  • "Shot an unarmed man point blank 3-4 times trying to kill him and only got 13 years," another commenter observed. "That's (F) up."
  • "There is no way this individual should have gotten 13 years," another user said. "At the very least the individual should have received life."

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Gavin Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty, And The Plea Agreement Is Kind Of Amazing

A plea deal in California shines a remarkable light on the lives of the leftist nomenklatura. Dana Williamson is the former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, having served in that role in 2023 and 2024. On May 14, facing a 23-count indictment, she pled guilty to three federal crimes: bank fraud, submitting […]

Unhinged 49-year-old female caught on video tossing coffee on McDonald's worker enters her plea in court



A 49-year-old female who was caught on video tossing coffee on a Michigan McDonald's worker in November entered her plea in court last week.

Casharra T. Brown appeared beside attorney Paul M. Purcell before Saginaw County District Judge Elian E.H. Fichtner and pleaded guilty to assault and battery, MLive reported, adding that the misdemeanor is punishable by up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.

'F**k you, b***h! Catch that hot-a** coffee!'

On the morning of Nov. 4 at the McDonald's at 3700 Dixie Highway in Buena Vista Township, Brown wanted a refund for two sandwiches after placing an online order, Buena Vista Township Police Detective Russ Pahssen told MLive in a previous story.

The outlet said the McDonald's manager gave Brown a coffee and tried to de-escalate the situation, while Brown claimed she had been there for more than an hour. The interaction reached an impasse, MLive said, and the manager told Brown to have a great day as she turned and walked away from the counter.

The female customer removed the lid from the coffee cup, threw the contents at the manager, and yelled, "F**k you, bitch! Catch that hot-ass coffee!" as she exited the restaurant, according to video of the encounter without redacted audio. The manager can be heard screaming after the hot coffee struck her body.

The following video report about the incident aired before Brown surrendered to authorities.

RELATED: Female caught on video tossing cup of scalding coffee on McDonald's manager, who suffers burns

Brown appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens more than a week after the incident for arraignment, and he freed Brown on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond for the misdemeanor. MLive previously reported that police submitted paperwork to the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office requesting a felonious assault charge against the suspect.

While police at the time told MLive that the restaurant manager suffered minor burns, the outlet said police later indicated that she was wearing enough layers to prevent her skin from being burned.

Judge Fichtner last Monday referred Brown to the Probation Department for an interview, the outlet said, which will help the judge fashion "an appropriate sentence." The judge warned Brown not to skip the interview, as it will not be rescheduled, MLive added.

RELATED: Unhinged female accused of tossing hot coffee on McDonald's manager finally appears before judge

Before last week's hearing ended, Brown's defense attorney asked that her bond be amended to let her leave Michigan and return to Georgia, the outlet said.

Turns out, Brown was visiting family at the time of the coffee-tossing incident, and her attorney said she has remained in the Saginaw area ever since due to a bond condition prohibiting her from leaving the state, MLive reported.

The travel restriction caused Brown to miss a court date over a traffic infraction in Tennessee, her attorney added, according to MLive.

Judge Fichtner modified Brown's bond to allow her to leave the state, the outlet reported, adding that the judge reminded Brown she must return to Michigan and be physically present in her courtroom for sentencing, or she will issue a warrant for Brown's arrest.

Brown replied she would be in court, MLive said. The date of her sentencing is pending.

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'Unsettling': Former teacher pleads guilty to 21 felony counts of child sex crimes against girl



A former sixth-grade teacher in Ohio has pleaded guilty to 21 felony counts of child sex crimes against an underage girl and now faces up to 15 years in prison.

Stefanie Erin Kellenberger, 40, recently pleaded guilty to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to Richland County Common Pleas Court records.

'This news may be unsettling, especially for families with children in our schools.'

According to the Mansfield News Journal, Richland County Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson said, "You had been a teacher. She had been a student. But at the time these occurred, you were not her teacher, and she was not your student."

State prosecutors informed the court that there was “no use of force” in Kellenberger’s sexual abuse.

"Consent was never an issue in this case," James Mayer III, Kellenberger's defense attorney, stated. "It's an age thing."

Mayer reportedly pointed out that his client had no legal issues before this case.

Bryan Dove, an assistant prosecutor for Richland County, alleged that Kellenberger began grooming the girl when she was just 13 years old and that the child sex abuse began when the victim turned 14.

"The relationship continued until the age of consent,” Dove told the judge.

Ohio law declares that 16 years old is the age of consent.

RELATED: Married ex-teacher escapes jail sentence after accused of sharing explicit videos with student, inviting teen to have sex

Kellenberger allegedly sexually abused the girl at her home in Shelby, according to the New York Post. Prosecutors claimed Kellenberger committed child sexual abuse between February 2020 and October 2021, the Richland Source said.

The victim allegedly asked that Kellenberger serve three years in prison, but the judge reportedly said that the sentence was too lenient for the severity of the crimes.

The Post said prosecutors presented Kellenberger with two options: 12 years flat prison time or 15 years with the possibility of judicial release after 10 years.

The disgraced teacher reportedly chose the second option when she pleaded guilty, court documents show.

Kellenberger also must register as a Tier 3 sex offender, court papers said. She was ordered to have no contact with minors and forfeit her teaching license forever.

Dove noted, "The victim is relieved to not have to testify. That's why we entered into this agreement with the defendant."

RELATED: Ex-teacher pleads guilty to sex with 11-year-old at 'play dates,' blamed boy for advances, sent him hundreds of dollars: Cops

Photo by Five Buck Photos via iStock / Getty Images Plus

Kellenberger was a sixth-grade English and language arts teacher at Shelby City Schools at the time of her crimes.

Shelby City Schools Superintendent Michael Browning sent a letter to parents in October 2024 regarding the accusations against Kellenberger.

“As a follow-up to the communication sent on March 4, 2024, I have been informed that the staff member placed on administrative leave following serious allegations has been arrested, and criminal charges have been brought against them,” Browning stated, according to a separate story by the Richland Source. "This news may be unsettling, especially for families with children in our schools."

Browning added that "we have been in touch with the district’s legal counsel and are awaiting further guidance. As shared previously, the staff member was immediately placed on leave and has had no contact with students or staff since the investigation began."

The Mansfield News Journal in a separate story reported that Kellenberger resigned in October 2024 "due to personal reasons."

Superintendent Browning said at the time, "She is no longer an employee. We're going to move on."

Kellenberger's photo was still visible on the Shelby City Schools website on Friday morning.

Kellenberger is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 6, according to court records.

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Woman falsely accuses her landlord of saying he doesn't want black tenants — and makes it much worse by involving feds



A Cincinnati woman falsely accused her landlord of saying he doesn't want black tenants, and she pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements to federal agents about the matter, the U.S. Department of Justice said last week.

What's the background?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in February 2023 was forwarded several text messages purportedly sent by a Cincinnati-area landlord as part of a civil rights report, officials said, citing court documents.

The landlord owns more than 100 properties — including 56 properties rented through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s housing choice voucher program — and many of his tenants appear to be black, officials said.

In March 2023, Dermisha Pickett met with HUD agents and gave them numerous discriminatory messages purportedly from Pickett’s landlord, officials said, adding that Pickett also claimed her landlord called her as she arrived at the meeting and placed the call on speaker phone.

Pickett told agents she tried to pay her portion of the rent but that her landlord returned it, stating he did not want to rent to black people, officials said.

Fanon Rucker — Pickett's attorney at the time — shared multiple alleged screenshots of texts from her landlord stating he wanted "a white family in this unit" and "will not rent [to] African Americans again," WCPO-TV reported.

"If it doesn't make everybody who hears this angry, then folks need to check their pulse," Rucker said nearly a year ago, according to video from the station.

But the landlord during a later interview with agents told them he didn't want to continue to rent to Pickett because she was causing extensive damage to the property, officials said, adding that phone records and forensic analysis indicate that no text messages were exchanged during the time periods Pickett claimed and that it's alleged she used mobile applications to fabricate the text messages.

WCPO said it was discovered that an alleged voicemail from the landlord was linked to a phone number tied to Pickett.

Now what?

“Making false reports of racial discrimination is unacceptable and can have tangible effects on other tenants who rely on HUD-assisted housing,” Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice with the HUD Office of Inspector General said. “In this case, if the landlord had violated the Fair Housing Act, his participation in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher program may have been revoked, causing the displacement of approximately 50 families who rely on the Housing Choice Voucher program. These families would have been forced to uproot their families to find new homes, incurring non-reimbursable expenses.”

Pickett, 33, was charged in August 2023, officials said, adding that making a false statement to federal officers is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Here's a video report that aired when the tables started turning on Pickett about six months ago:

Cincinnati woman allegedly made up discriminatory messages from landlord youtu.be

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Thug accused of smashing car's rear window with kids in back seat, pointing gun at their mom, head-butting her pleads guilty



The biker accused of stomping and smashing a car's rear window on a Philadelphia street last fall when children, ages 2 and 5, were in the back seat and then pointing a gun at their mother and head-butting her after she confronted him pleaded guilty Wednesday, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said.

Cody Heron, 27, during a pre-trial status hearing pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of an instrument of crime, officials said, adding that the DA's office announced Heron's conviction Thursday.

What's the background?

Authorities said Heron and fellow bikers and drivers jammed traffic outside City Hall on Oct. 1 during an unauthorized "meet-up."

Nikki Bullock, the mother in question, told WCAU-TV shortly after the ordeal that she was delivering food with her girlfriend and their two children when the assailant hit her car.

"They’re not paying attention to lanes. They’re just doing whatever. So I’m turning in the lane, and he just hits the side of the car," Bullock told WCAU, adding that she argued with the biker afterward.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

She noted to the station the biker at that point took things to another level, hopping up on her car's back bumper and stomping on the rear window before jumping high and smashing through the window with both feet.

After Bullock exited the car to confront the biker, the biker pointed a gun at her. Bullock told the station, "It was just, like, it was a little gun, and at that point, my windshield was already broken — so, what was he really going to do to me, for real?"

She continued trying to get in the biker's face, and the biker — who was wearing a helmet — head-butted her and shoved her. The DA's office confirmed that Heron smashed the car's window, head-butted the victim, and brandished a firearm at her.

Bullock still didn't back down, and video shows her shoving the biker back — and he falls sideways along with his two-wheeled ride.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Anything else?

The DA's office said Heron tried to evade authorities by destroying evidence and "even using another person’s online profile to deflect attention from investigators." Heron's sentencing is scheduled for June 5, authorities said.

Here's a report about the incident that aired after Heron's arrest:

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American basketball star Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges in Russia, faces up to 10 years in prison



Brittney Griner — an American basketball star busted in February after Russian authorities said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage — on Thursday pleaded guilty to drug charges in Moscow, NBC News reported.

Griner faces up to 10 years in prison, the network added.

What are the details?

Her lawyer, Alexander Boikov, said following the hearing that Griner admitted the vape canisters found at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport were hers but that she brought them to Russia unintentionally, NBC News noted.

Griner's other lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, said they hoped for leniency, the network reported, adding that Griner’s next hearing is scheduled for next Thursday.

NBC News said it wasn't in the courtroom when Griner spoke.

Griner's arrest happened just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, the network said, adding that the Kremlin is accused of using Griner as a political pawn. The Biden administration insisted Griner has been “wrongfully detained," NBC News said, adding that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Griner was being held hostage.

'I'm terrified I might be here forever'

Earlier this week Griner, 31, wrote an emotional letter to President Joe Biden, pleading with him to bring her home, the network said.

Griner's handwritten letter was delivered Monday morning to the White House, the Griner family told CBS News, adding that she wrote, "I'm terrified I might be here forever. On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year."

The White House said Biden read Griner's letter, CBS News noted in a separate report. Biden reassured Griner’s wife that he was trying to secure her release as quickly as possible, NBC News added.

Anything else?

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in April that Griner was in an “unimaginable” situation amid her detention in Russia.

"She continues to have our full support," Engelbert said at the time. "Certainly, we’re trying everything we can, every angle, working with her legal representation, her agent, elected leaders, the administration. Just everybody in our ecosystem to try and find ways to get her home safely and as quickly as we can.”

Democratic operative pleads guilty to illegal ballot harvesting in 2020 Arizona primary election



A well-known Democratic operative pleaded guilty Thursday to ballot abuse — or ballot harvesting, which was made illegal under a 2016 Arizona state law — during the 2020 primary election, the Associated Press reported.

What are the details?

Guillermina Fuentes, 66, could get probation for running what investigators with the Arizona attorney general's office said was an operation in the border city of San Luis to persuade voters to let her gather — and in some cases fill out — their ballots, the AP said.

In a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped three felony counts alleging Fuentes filled out one voter's ballot and forged signatures on some of the four ballots she illegally returned for non-family members, the outlet reported.

More from the AP:

Fuentes, a former San Luis mayor who serves as an elected board member of the Gadsden Elementary School District in San Luis, could be sentenced to up to two years in prison, but that would require a judge to find aggravating circumstances. The plea agreement leaves the actual sentence up to a judge, who could give her probation, home confinement and a hefty fine for her admission to illegally collecting and returning four voted ballots.

Sentencing was set for June 30. She will lose her voting rights and must give up elected office.

Attorney Anne Chapman said in an email Thursday that she had no comment on the charges against her client.

But Chapman ripped the state's ballot collection law, the outlet said, saying it makes things more difficult for minorities who historically have relied on others to help them vote: "This prosecution shows that the law is part of ongoing anti-democratic, state-wide, and national voter suppression efforts.”

What's the background?

Fuentes and her co-defendant were seen with several mail-in envelopes outside a cultural center in San Luis on the day of the 2020 primary election, investigators' reports show, the AP said, adding that the ballots were dropped in an indoor ballot box.

A write-in candidate recorded video of Fuentes and then called the Yuma County sheriff, the outlet added. The investigators' reports said video shows Fuentes marking at least one ballot — but that charge was dropped, the AP said.

While the case involved only a handful of ballots, the outlet said investigators believe the scheme went much farther.

FORMER MAYOR OF SAN LUIS PLEADS GUILTY TO BALLOT ABUSEyoutu.be

Doughnut shop worker who fatally punched 77-year-old customer over being called N-word sentenced to two years of house arrest



A 27-year-old doughnut shop employee who fatally punched a 77-year-old customer last year over being called the N-word was sentenced Monday to two years of house arrest, WTVT-TV reported.

What are the details?

Investigators said Vonelle Cook went through a Dunkin' drive-through in Tampa, Florida, on May 5, 2021, and was angry about the lack of service, the station reported.

Employees said Cook was a frequent customer and "regularly troublesome and abusive," WTVT said, citing a state attorney's office release.

Cook then parked his car and walked into the restaurant, and prosecutors said he was aggressive and verbally abusive toward employees — including Corey Pujols, the station said.

When Pujols — who is black — asked Cook to leave, police told WTVT that Cook called him the N-word.

Pujols told Cook not to call him the racial slur again, the station said, but Cook did just that. WTVT's early reporting on the incident — citing investigators — indicated the victim repeated the slur after Pujols challenged him to do so.

After the second N-word utterance, Pujols punched Cook in the jaw, the station said. The blow knocked out Cook and caused him fall and hit his head on the floor, WTVT said.

Tampa Fire Rescue responded and took Cook to a hospital, where he died three days later, the station said, adding that an autopsy revealed he suffered a skull fracture and brain contusions from the fall.

What happened next?

Police arrested Pujols and charged him with aggravated manslaughter of an elderly adult, WTVT said. But prosecutors later made a deal with Pujols, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of felony battery in exchange for a more lenient sentence, the station said.

In addition to two years of house arrest, a judge sentenced the former Dunkin' employee to complete 200 hours of community service and attend an anger management course, WTVT said.

"This outcome holds the defendant accountable while taking into account the totality of the circumstances — the aggressive approach and despicable racial slur used by the victim, along with the defendant’s age, lack of criminal record, and lack of intent to cause the victim’s death," Grayson Kamm, spokesperson for the Hillsborough state attorney's office, told the station in a statement.

Prosecutors also noted Cook's "very troublesome criminal history" and prison time — court records show he was a registered sex offender — which they said made him an "unsympathetic victim," WTVT reported.

Darrin Johnson, an attorney for Pujols, declined to comment after the hearing, the station said.

Here's a WTVT report that aired after Cook's death: