Substitute teacher accused of paying students for sex, providing marijuana and alcohol to children; she faces 19 charges



A former substitute teacher in Missouri is accused of paying students to engage in sex acts with her while urging them to keep their activities a secret. The ex-teacher also supplied children with alcohol and marijuana and sent illicit photos to kids, according to police.

According to online court records, Carissa Smith began as a substitute teacher for Dixon Middle School in 2022 and 2023. Smith was hired as a paraprofessional for Dixon High School for the 2023-24 school year and was later hired as a long-term substitute teacher. However, Smith resigned from her position in August.

One alleged victim told police he was in middle school when 'Smith asked him to have sex with her.'

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Department said in a press release, "According to the probable cause statement submitted, information was obtained while interviewing victims that Mrs. Smith would offer money, marijuana and/or alcohol to students in return for sex or to allow her to perform oral sex."

Investigators say the alleged incidents occurred from August 2023 to September 2024.

According to the probable cause statement, Smith paid an alleged victim at least $100 to engage in sexual activities with her.

The alleged victims told investigators that Smith would have sex with them at her home and "other various locations such as gravel roads or on the side of the road." Police said the alleged victims were able to describe Smith's house and her vehicle.

One alleged victim told police he was in middle school when "Smith asked him to have sex with her."

Citing authorities, the Kansas City Star reported that Smith urged an alleged victim multiple times to not tell anyone about their encounters and advised the boy that “she would get into trouble.”

One alleged victim said Smith sent nude photos of herself on Snapchat and propositioned the child for sex, according to the court documents.

The sheriff's department said Smith was arrested Nov. 12.

Police said Smith was charged with eight counts of statutory rape, three counts of sexual contact with a student, two counts of sexual misconduct with a student, two counts of sexual trafficking of a child, two counts of hindering prosecution, one count of statutory sodomy, and one count of patronizing prostitution.

The sheriff's department noted that more charges could be filed once all alleged victims have been interviewed. Smith is being detained at the Pulaski County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond.

In a letter to parents, Dixon R-1 School District Superintendent Travis Bohrer said the district learned of Smith’s alleged misconduct earlier in the school year.

"We were unable to share this information with you sooner due to the need to allow law enforcement officials to fully investigate without interference," Bohrer said, adding that "this is very disturbing and distressing information for everyone in our school community."

Bohrer said the district has cooperated with the sheriff's department about the "serious matter."

The Dixon R-1 School District released a statement to KYTV-TV that read in part, "Earlier this school year, the district received a report of possible misconduct by Ms. Smith towards at least one district student."

The school district said it had been in contact with the impacted families.

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Just days after her sudden resignation, mayor of small Louisiana city charged with raping juvenile



Just days after declaring her sudden resignation, a Louisiana mayor has been charged with raping a juvenile.

Misty Dawn Clanton Roberts, 42 — now-former mayor of the City of DeRidder — was arrested Thursday, booked into the Beauregard Parish Detention Center at 10:13 a.m., and released 77 minutes later on a $75,000 bond, according to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office jail roster.

'My client maintains her innocence and, as it stands, she is in fact innocent.'

Roberts was hit with charges of third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, the Louisiana State Police said in a news release.

Roberts became the first female mayor of DeRidder — a city with a population of approximately 10,000 located about 20 miles east of the Louisiana-Texas border — in 2018. She was serving her second term after winning re-election in 2022. Newsweek reported that Roberts is an independent.

On July 26, Roberts said she was stepping away from the office for two days and had appointed DeRidder Fire Chief Ken Harlow as mayor pro tempore. The next day, Roberts resigned, according to KPLC-TV.

"For nearly 15 years, my love and passion for DeRidder has been my foundation while serving as Mayor," Roberts wrote in a letter of resignation to the city council.

"This role has rewarded me with many great relationships," Roberts continued. "I am humbled to have witnessed the hard work that took a community to come together and overcome through unprecedented times. However, I must adjust my focus and priorities."

Also on July 26, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office requested the Louisiana State Police Special Victim’s Unit to investigate a complaint regarding allegations of sexual relations between a juvenile and Roberts.

Investigators conducted interviews with two minors regarding the child sexual abuse allegations. One of the minors interviewed was the alleged victim. Both minors told police that the alleged victim had sexual intercourse with Roberts when she was the mayor of DeRidder.

Law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Roberts from the Beauregard Parish 36th Judicial District Court.

Adam Johnson, Roberts' attorney, declared that his client is innocent.

"My client learned late last night of a warrant, despite not being contacted to be interviewed prior to investigators obtaining the warrant," Johnson said in a statement, as reported by WAFB-TV. "My client maintains her innocence and, as it stands, she is in fact innocent."

Johnson added, "And we trust the public will respect her constitutional presumption of innocence which is fundamental to our system of justice. Misty and her family are very grateful for the support they have received from their friends and neighbors and we look forward to putting this unfortunate situation behind them."

Roberts' information page on the City of DeRidder website has been scrubbed. An archived version of the page states that Roberts is a past board member and supporting member of the Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Hope Village board of directors, an Agape Community Clinic trustee, a Beauregard Prevention Coalition board member, a board member of the DeRidder Rotary Club, and a member of the Fort Polk Progress board of directors.

The Lagniappe local news outlet said in a May article that "it’s been a rough few years for her. She’s had to navigate two hurricanes, a freeze, fires, a divorce, and loss." The DeRidder archived page states that Roberts got married in 2008.

Roberts said of her divorce, "Contrary to what some were saying, there was nothing salacious that led to it. It was a personal decision and going through that publicly has changed me. I’m far from a feminist, but through this experience, I’ve learned there are a group of people who expect women to be perfect — to look and act a certain way."

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Former church youth leader charged with felony statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger



A North Carolina woman has been charged with felony statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger. The 35-year-old woman reportedly stepped down from her role as a former church youth leader just days before her arrest.

The Kings Mountain Police Department Criminal Investigation Division received a report of a sexual assault on a minor on July 28.

The Kings Mountain Police Department said in a statement, "CID Special Victims Detectives investigated the incident further and interviewed the alleged victim. After consulting with the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office, felony warrants were secured and served on Amanda Buchanan Justice, 35, of Kings Mountain."

Amanda Buchanan Justice, 35, turned herself into authorities on Thursday.

Justice was charged with two counts of felony statutory sex offense with a child under the age of 15 years old. She was transported to the Cleveland County Magistrate's Office. Justice was released on a $20,000 bond.

The Shelby Star reported, "On Thursday, a post was made on the No Compromise Youth Ministry’s Facebook page addressing the charges."

The No Compromise Youth Ministry reportedly said on Facebook, "New Life Partners: We were made aware of the situation that has occurred concerning Amanda Justice. She is no longer attending NLFWC. There is an ongoing investigation in regards to allegations of misconduct with a minor that did not occur on church grounds or any ministry activities. Please continue to pray for this situation and for our church during these difficult times."

Justice purportedly started as a youth leader in May.

The husband of Justice is reportedly still a pastor but recently stepped down from his role as a youth minister following the allegations involving his wife.

According to WSOC-TV, "Justice’s husband told Channel 9′s Erika Jackson that his wife told police about the alleged sex crimes last week, so Thursday’s arrest was not a surprise."

WCNC-TV reported, "New Life Family Worship Center, a church in Kings Mountain, said in a statement posted on Facebook that Justice was a member but no longer attends the church. The church also said the alleged crime did not happen on church grounds nor did it involve any ministry activities."

The investigation into the child sex crime accusations is ongoing.

The Kings Mountain Police Department is urging anyone with details on the case to contact (704) 734-0444, or anonymous tips can be provided to Cleveland County CrimeStoppers.

Kings Mountain woman faces statutory sex offense charges www.youtube.com

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'Teacher of the year' charged with rape of underage student, detectives say there may be more victims



A California teacher has been accused of raping a 16-year-old male student. Detectives believe that the former "teacher of the year" may have sexually assaulted other victims.

Tracy Vanderhulst was arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old male student, according to a news release from the Yucaipa Police Department. Vanderhulst was charged with statutory rape.

Vanderhulst was booked into Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, and her bail was set at $30,000.

The arrest was made following an investigation by detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division - Crimes Against Children Detail and the Yucaipa Police Department.

“Investigators and the Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District worked cooperatively to ensure a thorough investigation into this matter was completed,” the San Bernardino's Sheriff’s Department said.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims.

Vanderhulst is a 38-year-old math teacher at Yucaipa High School. She was hired at the high school in 2013, according to a Facebook post.

In a since-deleted tweet, the high school said Vanderhulst “offers up a rigorous mathematics curriculum and deep caring for her students.”

In a YouTube video posted seven years ago, Vanderhulst said she teaches a math honors class to mostly freshman students.

Vanderhulst won the school's "teacher of the year" award in 2017.

In a description of Vanderhulst being awarded Yucaipa High School’s "teacher of the year" award, she was described as someone who "epitomizes the educator so many desire to be she is the kind and innovative teacher from whom we hope our children will grow; the educator who strives to engage all of her students from her intervention classes to her honors classes.”

Vanderhulst's profile is still active on the Yucaipa High School website.

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding crimes in the possible teacher sex scandal case to contact Detective Rachel Young of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904, or provide anonymous tips to the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).

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Yucaipa High ‘teacher of the year’ arrested, accused of having sex with student www.youtube.com

Owners of Missouri girls' home charged with more than 100 felonies including child abuse, statutory rape



The owners of a now-defunct girls' home in Missouri have been charged by the state's attorney general with more than 100 felonies collectively — including sexual abuse and statutory rape — after 16 alleged victims came forward with purportedly corroborated claims.

What are the details?

Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) announced the charges against married couple Boyd and Stephanie Householder, who founded Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in 2006 as a Christian reform school for troubled teens.

NBC News reported:

Court records show Boyd Householder, 71, faces 79 felony counts and one misdemeanor, including charges for child molestation, sodomy, sexual contact with a student and neglect of a child. Stephanie Householder, 55, faces 22 felony charges for abuse or neglect of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged incidents occurred from 2017 to 2020.

According to KRCG-TV, the allegations outlined in court documents accuse Boyd Householder of "repeated statutory sodomy," "multiple incidents" where he had sexual intercourse with a victim under the age of 17, slamming victims' heads into walls, beating girls with his hands or with a belt, and instructing several girls on the best way to kill themselves.

"There are no words I can say today to describe the mix of great sadness, horror, disgust and sympathy that I feel about these reports of cruel and almost unbelievable reports of abuse and neglect," Schmitt said during a news conference.

He added, "We believe this to be one of the most widespread cases of sexual, physical and mental abuse we've had against young girls and women in Missouri's history."

Schmitt's office took on the case in November, after the Cedar County Prosecutor's Office asked for assistance.

Boyd and Stephanie Householder are being held at the Vernon County Jail.

Girls' home had been reported at least 19 times

NBC News reported "since the boarding school opened, concerned parents, staff members and others had reported Circle of Hope at least 19 times to three sheriff's departments, state child welfare and education officials, the highway patrol, and the state attorney general's office."

The outlet did not cite the dates of when the prior complaints were filed, but noted that "the wave of state action began after the Householders' daughter, Amanda, and women who attended Circle of Hope as teenagers started to post videos on TikTok last spring alleging abuse at the ranch. The videos prompted the Cedar County Sheriff's Office to investigate, the office confirmed."

"This is a moment that does deserve to be celebrated," Amanda said of her parents' arrests in a TikTok video on Wednesday. "I am sad because they are my parents, but something my parents would always tell me is, 'You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.' Well, my parents made their bed and now they're going to have to lie in it. As hard as that is for me, it's about time."