Ex-middle school teacher sentenced to 30 years for illicit sex acts with underage student will serve only 12 months in jail



A former Maryland teacher pleaded guilty in June to illegal child sex crimes with a student and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. However, she'll only serve a year behind bars after a judge suspended the vast majority of her sentence.

On June 20, Melissa Marie Curtis pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree sex offenses with an underage middle school student. During her sentencing Friday, Curtis also was given five years of supervised probation, according to the Montgomery County State Attorney’s Office.

The former student claimed that Curtis sexually abused him nearly two dozen times.

Once released, Curtis will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. She also won't be allowed to have unsupervised contact with minors other than her own children.

According to a previous statement from the Montgomery County Department of Police, its Special Victims Investigations Division in October 2023 began a probe into an adult male's allegations that in 2015 he engaged in sexual acts with Curtis when he was a minor and she was 22.

The incidents continued for several months while the victim was a student at Montgomery Village Middle School and Curtis was a teacher at the same school, the statement said.

The alleged victim at the time was in the 8th grade and 14 years old; he allegedly volunteered for an after-school program Curtis ran.

Police executed an arrest warrant for Curtis on Oct. 31, 2023. Curtis turned herself in to authorities on Nov. 7, 2023.

The former student claimed that Curtis sexually abused him nearly two dozen times.

Citing court documents, D.C. News Now reported last year that Curtis sexually abused the student in a classroom, in a car, at her mother's home, and at his house.

The news outlet also said, citing charging documents, that Curtis "touched his penis while in a classroom and performed oral sex on him." Also, she is accused of providing alcohol and marijuana to the minor.

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Teacher accused of criminal sexual penetration of student, reportedly asked principal not to tell her husband



The latest teacher sex scandal involves a newly hired substitute teacher from New Mexico who has since been fired. The 30-year-old married woman was charged with criminal sexual penetration and sexual contact with a minor, according to authorities.

Michaela Ford of Estancia was arrested Friday and hit with seven charges, including criminal sexual penetration and sexual contact with a minor. Ford is being held at the Torrance County Detention Facility.

Surveillance video showed the encounter between Ford and the child, according to court documents.

Ford had been working at Estancia High School. Citing court records, KOAT-TV reported that a witness came forward after allegedly seeing Ford kissing an underage student near the middle and high schools on Nov. 6. The station reported that Ford asked the principal not to tell her husband about the alleged interaction.

The school launched an investigation into the allegations. Surveillance video showed the encounter between Ford and the child, according to court documents.

The Estancia Municipal School District issued a statement Monday saying it's "disturbed to learn of the allegations made against a former substitute teacher in the district, who was arrested."

"The district is working closely in cooperation with law enforcement to ensure that a full investigation is conducted," the district stated. "The safety of our students is our highest priority. The district follows all laws and policies with regards to the hiring of employees, including a comprehensive background check."

The district said Ford had been employed at the high school for less than a month. Ford was "separated from students immediately" after the accusations of sexual misconduct surfaced.

"The district is now concentrating our efforts and resources to assist students requiring support and guidance," the school district said.

"As this matter has just come to light, full details are not known," the district added. "All information related to this matter will remain confidential in order to protect our students. This district takes pride in being a tight-knit and caring community of learners. We will continue to take all necessary steps to protect student safety."

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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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Special education teacher groomed, sexually assaulted 13-year-old boy in classroom, provided weed to him: Police



A California special education teacher is accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student. The Los Angeles teacher also had sex with the underage boy in her classroom and provided him with marijuana, according to police.

On Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested 43-year-old Colleen Jo Matarico.

Matarico is in custody on $1.3 million bail.

Police said in a statement that Matarico of Valley Village "groomed and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old victim in her classroom, and later convinced the victim to have sexual intercourse in her vehicle."

Police said the special education teacher also provided marijuana to the boy and added that "detectives believe there are additional, unidentified victims of Matarico who have yet to come forward."

Matarico was charged with five counts of lewd acts with a minor, two counts of lewd acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, and one count of furnishing marijuana to a minor.

Matarico's LinkedIn profile states she is a special education teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

According to the John Burroughs Middle School website, Matarico was listed as “a teacher.”

School principal Dr. Steve Martinez told the school community Thursday in a message shared with the New York Post that the teacher was removed from campus after the school contacted police. The Post said Matarico wasn't named in the letter.

“District protocols are being followed and we remain in cooperation with local authorities. Due to the ongoing investigation by law enforcement, we are unable to disclose additional details about this matter,” the principal wrote, according to the Post.

“We understand that some students may be impacted by this incident. Students can always reach out to teachers, counselors or school staff for support,” he added, the paper said.

Matarico is in custody on $1.3 million bail.

Police are urging any other victims to contact the LAPD's Juvenile Division Abused Child Section at 424-259-7097. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or submit tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.

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All-boys Catholic school teacher who allegedly had illicit tryst with student on campus gets indicted



A former teacher at an all-boys Catholic high school engaged in an illicit sexual relationship with a student that included a tryst while on campus, according to a prosecutor in Ohio.

On Tuesday, Hamilton County prosecutor Melissa Powers announced in a statement that 42-year-old Emily Nutley was indicted for six counts of sexual battery — a felony of the third degree. Nutley faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all charges. She would also be ordered to register as a sex offender if convicted.

'Let me be very clear: this is child sexual abuse.'

Nutley had been a teacher at St. Xavier High School — an all-boys Catholic school in Springfield Township. She also was a supervisor of a program that assists students who are struggling academically.

Nutley allegedly met a 17-year-old male through the program and then began to have additional contact with the student "outside of school hours," according to the prosecutor.

The teacher communicated with the alleged victim through text messages.

Nutley sent the boy nude photos and sexually explicit text messages, the prosecutor said.

The teacher allegedly began a sexual relationship with the underage student in mid-November 2023.

The prosecutor noted, "Nutley is alleged to have performed oral sex on the male victim at least one time while on the campus of St. Xavier High School and one additional time while off campus."

Nutley also is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse "after hours while in her office at the school" with the alleged victim.

The alleged victim purportedly attempted to end the illicit relations, but Nutley reportedly continued to send text messages to the boy.

St. Xavier High School administrators initiated an internal investigation into the alleged child sex crimes. Once evidence was collected, school administrators notified the Springfield Township Police Department of the alleged child sex abuse.

WLWT-TV reported St. Xavier High School fired Nutley when the criminal investigation began.

Hamilton County prosecutor Melissa Powers said of the alleged child sex crimes: “This is absolutely unacceptable and reprehensible conduct from an adult towards a minor child."

Powers added: "This child was in need of help and guidance but instead found an adult looking to act out her perverted sexual desires. This child was the victim of an adult predator who should never again have a role that puts her in contact with children. She used this child for her own sexual gratification while taking advantage of the position she held."

Powers stressed, "Let me be very clear: this is child sexual abuse."

Powers vowed that her office would prosecute this case "fully and thoroughly to ensure that justice is served.”

St. Xavier High School released a statement Monday that said, "We appreciate the unwavering commitment of our faculty, staff, and administration to the safety, well-being, and dignity of every student entrusted to our care. We believe this case to be an isolated incident."

The school also stated, "At this time, we respectfully ask for continued prayers for the well-being of our students, their families, our entire staff, and for all individuals impacted by abuse. We remain committed to providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for our entire St. Xavier community."

The high school urged any students who had been sexually abused by a teacher to contact the Springfield Township Police Department.

Nutley is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 8.

WXIX-TV published a video report about the alleged teacher sex scandal.

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Middle school teacher accused of sexually abusing former student



A Texas teacher has been arrested after allegedly having a sexual relationship with an underage boy over the summer.

Angela Dawn Barnes, 45, was arrested without incident Monday and booked into Keller Regional Jail.

The school district said it is cooperating with police and Child Protective Services in the investigation.

Barnes was charged with sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between an educator and student.

Barnes is a teacher at Carroll Middle School in Southlake, which is about 25 miles northwest of Dallas.

The Keller Police Department said it received a tip in September that Barnes was "having an inappropriate relationship with an underage boy who was a former student."

The Keller Police Department said in a statement, "Detectives began investigating the case immediately and discovered that Barnes was engaged in a sexual relationship with an underage boy throughout the months of June and July 2024 and that the relationship had since ended."

Investigators said there was no evidence that there were any additional victims.

Authorities did not indicate the age of the alleged victim. Carroll Middle School consists of grades 7 and 8; middle school students in those grades are typically between the ages of 12 and 14.

WFAA reported that Carroll Independent School District officials said the teacher was placed on administrative leave after police notified them about the accusations. The school district said it is cooperating with police and Child Protective Services in the investigation.

"Carroll ISD immediately placed this staff member on administrative leave and reported to the proper authorities," Carroll Independent School District said in a statement. "The district was made aware the alleged offense took place off-campus over the summer within the jurisdiction of the Keller Police Department."

The statement added that "based on the information we have received, no incidents occurred on CISD campuses. The CISD is working in collaboration with Keller Police and Child Protective Services as they investigate the allegations."

The district's statement also said "the safety and security of all students is always our top priority and any allegations of adult misconduct are addressed promptly and reported immediately to the proper authorities."

Barnes was not listed Tuesday on the staff directory of the middle school's website.

The Keller Police Department urged anyone with information in this case to contact Detective William Brockmoller at wbrockmoller@cityofkeller.com.

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Teacher who left claw marks on underage student's back after sex romp gets sweetheart plea deal



A former Missouri math teacher who pleaded guilty to having sex with a student could potentially serve a very short prison sentence thanks to a sweetheart plea deal.

As Blaze News reported in January, 26-year-old Hailey Clifton-Carmack was arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student.

'They are going to do it behind my back, so I may as well let it happen.'

Clifton-Carmack — a former teacher at Laquey High School — allegedly had sex with a minor on multiple occasions and in different locations, including at the school.

WITI-TV reported that a witness told detectives with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office that the teacher and victim had "used students as lookouts while they had sex during school."

The victim allegedly sent photos of scratches on his back to a classmate. The student said the scratches were from Clifton-Carmack after they had sex in the classmate's driveway, according to the police report.

Blaze News reported last month that the victim's father — Mark Creighton — allegedly knew of the suspect's purported relationship with his son.

An anonymous witness reportedly told the father that she was going to report the child sex abuse, and the father allegedly responded: “They are going to do it behind my back, so I may as well let it happen.”

The father allegedly admitted to Pulaski County Detective Sgt. Bryan Gibbs that Clifton-Carmack had been to his house.

Prosecutors said Creighton “knew of the relationship of his minor child and the 26-year-old teacher, and instead of reporting the information, he continued to cover for them and allowed the relationship to continue” and “even allowed Hailey to come over to his residence and see the victim while he was present.”

The teen’s father was charged with child endangerment in January.

Clifton-Carmack allegedly denied the child sex crime accusations when questioned by detectives in December 2023. Clifton-Carmack fled to Texas, where she was arrested in January and was extradited back to Missouri.

Clifton-Carmack initially was charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree statutory rape, having sexual contact with a student, fourth-degree child molestation, and seven counts of misdemeanor furnishing pornographic material to a minor.

However, the disgraced teacher made a deal and pleaded guilty to sexual contact with a student, which allows her to avoid more serious charges.

On Friday, Circuit Judge John Beger sentenced Clifton-Carmack to four years in prison. The divorced mother of two also was ordered to complete a sex offender treatment program.

The judge also said he would "receive a report on her progress and behavior in about 90 days, and if she does well, her sentence could be suspended, and she would be placed on probation," KJLU-TV reported.

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Teacher accused of sexual misconduct with 11-year-old student traded over 33,000 'explicit' texts with him: Report



A Wisconsin teacher accused of sexual misconduct with an 11-year-old male student traded more than 33,000 "explicit" text messages with the victim, according to a KARE-TV video report.

As Blaze News previously reported, Madison Bergmann — a 24-year-old former teacher at River Crest Elementary in Hudson — was accused last spring of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a 5th-grade student.

The accusations against the teacher reportedly came just three months before her wedding.

The alleged illicit relationship came to light when the boy's parents saw eyebrow-raising text messages from Bergmann to their son. Texts reportedly mentioned the teacher and student "kissing, touching, and making out."

The boy’s father went to the school with printouts of the conversations to notify school administrators, who then involved law enforcement.

Police launched an investigation and reportedly discovered a folder with the alleged victim's name on it. The folder contained handwritten notes detailing how the boy and the teacher kissed and fondled each other, according to the criminal complaint.

When questioned by investigators, Bergmann reportedly told police that the student's mother gave her the 11-year-old's phone number when she accompanied them on a ski trip over winter break.

The accusations against the teacher reportedly came just three months before her wedding.

Bergmann was arrested and initially charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault.

However, Bergmann was hit with nine additional felonies in August: one count of using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, one count of exposing a child to harmful materials, two counts of child enticement causing mental or bodily harm, and five counts of sexual misconduct by school staff.

The preliminary hearing of the case began Monday at St. Croix County Circuit Court.

Bergmann's attorneys argued that their client had been overcharged.

But school resource officer Traci Hall told the court that Bergmann and the victim exchanged "approximately 33,000" text messages in the early part of this year, adding that the relationship became more sexual and explicit over time, the New York Post said.

Prosecutor Karl Anderson read some of the texts in court and pointed out that the messages became sexual on April 27.

Anderson said to Hall, “There’s a conversation about the victim being hard, and if she felt that during their hug,” he said. “Did she acknowledge that she felt it?”

She responded, "Yes."

Anderson then asked, “What else did she say?”

Hall replied, “That she would wear dresses more often because she liked how he touched her leg.”

According to the Post, Anderson asked Hall, “Does Ms. Bergmann ever allude to being sexually aroused in the text messages?”

Hall replied, “She talks about being wet in the classroom.”

Bergmann's attorneys argued that the text messages alone don't support five charges of sexual misconduct.

"There is never any language where she says ‘I want to have sex with you,' or that he says, ‘I want you to do this with me,'" attorney Joseph Tamburino stated.

Tamburino contended, "They talk a lot about kissing, and lips, and cheeks, and touching legs, but nothing like ‘this is what I want you to do to me,’ or ‘this is what I will do to you.'"

However, the judge disagreed and declared that the text messages were admissible evidence of sexual misconduct.

"It’s clear to me that the state has met its burden to find probable cause that the defendant has committed a felony," the judge ruled, which moves the case forward. "Clearly, there was probable cause presented by the detective today. The case is bound to go for trial."

You can view a video report here about the case.

Bergmann has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

She was released from jail on a $25,000 signature bond.

The Hudson School District sent a statement to parents regarding the alleged teacher sex scandal.

"Learning about a school staff member and alleged inappropriate conduct that breaches trust is deeply troubling for all of us," school officials stated. "We understand the gravity of this situation and are committed to providing the necessary support for any child who may be impacted."

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Teacher caught having 'sexual contact' with student inside house under construction: Deputies



The latest possible teacher sex scandal involves a Texas instructor who was caught engaging in "sexual contact" with a student inside a house under construction, according to authorities.

According to a release by the Comal County Sheriff's Office, deputies were notified about a "suspicious person" at a house under construction in Garden Ridge at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday.

'I know it can be quite disturbing to learn that one of our teachers was charged with a crime such as this.'

Deputies said they found an adult female and a male juvenile inside the unfinished home. At the time detectives made contact with the individuals, they said the adult woman and minor were "engaged in sexual contact."

Police arrested 51-year-old Jennifer Massey — a teacher from Selma, which is in Comal County. Massey was charged with improper relationship between educator and student — a second-degree felony.

Massey was being detained at the Comal County Jail. A bond amount has not yet been set.

Police did not specify the age of the alleged victim.

The Comal County Sheriff's Office said an investigation is ongoing.

On Friday, Massey was placed on administrative leave from her teaching job at Davenport High School.

Comal Independent School District issued a statement to KENS-TV regarding the accusation: "The district does not condone inappropriate relationships between teachers and students. Ensuring the safety and security of our students is our top priority. We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement during their investigation."

Davenport High School Principal Angela Looney sent out a message to parents, according to KABB-TV, saying that "the district learned that last night Mrs. Massey was charged with having an improper relationship with a student." Looney added in the message that Massey "was placed on administrative leave this morning, and she will not be returning to Davenport High School."

The principal added, "The safety and security of our students is one of our highest priorities, and a responsibility that we take seriously. During the hiring process, the district’s human resources department conducts full background checks and criminal history to ensure that classrooms are led by individuals who have every student’s best interest in mind."

Looney also wrote, "I know it can be quite disturbing to learn that one of our teachers was charged with a crime such as this."

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Idaho former teacher pleads guilty to raping boy who was adopted just days before sexual assault



A former Idaho schoolteacher will face prison time after she pleaded guilty to raping a boy who had been adopted just days before she sexually assaulted him.

Jessica Lawson, 36, accepted a plea deal for felony sexual battery and charges of felony rape of a minor, the New York Post reported. Lawson had previously faced charges of felony delivery of a controlled substance and misdemeanor dispensing alcohol to a minor for reportedly giving the 16-year-old boy marijuana and alcohol, but those charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.

'My son is going to take a long time to heal, and he doesn’t even know the wounds that he has yet.'

The judge ordered Lawson to not have contact with the victim for 20 years.

As Blaze News previously reported on the teacher sex scandal, an officer with the Saint Anthony Police Department pulled over a vehicle for having no visible taillights on Nov. 6, 2023. A teen boy was driving the vehicle, but police allegedly determined the car belonged to Lawson.

The teenager told the police officer that Lawson allowed him to drive her car "due to her being too drunk to drive," according to the police report.

The teen admitted to police that he had consumed marijuana, and the officer drove him home, according to court documents.

The next morning, the boy's parents contacted the Saint Anthony Police Department to report that their son had an improper relationship with Lawson.

Lawson was a teacher at South Fremont High School at the time.

The boy allegedly told investigators that Lawson got intoxicated and provided him with marijuana before the pair had sex.

Court documents said Lawson admitted to picking up the teen from his house, taking him to her house, and providing him with alcohol. However, she purportedly denied supplying marijuana to the boy but confessed that she had the drug in her home.

Lawson allegedly denied that "anything else had occurred."

The victim’s father said his child was adopted just days before the crime came to light, and the victim grew up in foster homes.

“It takes a village to raise a young man, especially a young man that has been in and out of foster care, that has never known what it’s like to have a mom and a dad,” the father said in court, according to the East Idaho News. “My son is going to take a long time to heal, and he doesn’t even know the wounds that he has yet. He’s not going to understand those wounds until he’s a parent, and he’s sending his daughter or son … to the house of a parent that he trusts.”

The victim’s mother added, “We brought [the victim] in because he needed somebody, and he didn’t have anybody ... It was pretty quick that we realized this is a really great kid, and he’s wonderful, and he should be in our family.”

The victim's mother also said, "He’s got a lot of problems because he didn’t have a mom and dad that taught him how to recognize safe people." She then told Lawson: "And you took advantage of that ... she knew she could get something from him."

Lawson apologized to the victim, his family, and the community. She blamed an abusive relationship of 15 years for being the “catalyst” for her crimes.

“I alone am responsible for my actions, but I believe [a prior] relationship was the catalyst that set me down the path to where I am today,” Lawson stated. “I want to apologize to the victim and his family for any pain that I have caused. I want to apologize to the community and anyone I’ve let down.”

The boy's parents claimed there was a double standard in the case because Lawson is a female.

Senior District Judge Stephen Dunn retorted, "This is probably the sixth time I’ve dealt with a case like this, where the defendant was a female teacher. Sometimes the victims are male, and sometimes they’re female. There isn’t a double standard. The standards are the same. A person underage does not have the legal ability to consent to this kind of behavior. The responsibility is all on the defendant."

A spokesperson for the Fremont County School District told Law & Crime that Lawson had worked as a high school teacher from 2021 to the spring of 2023.

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