A FORMER substitute teacher has been accused of paying her middle school students to have sex with her.
Carissa Jane Smith, 30, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with 19 crimes including rape, sodomy, sex trafficking of a child, and sexual contact and misconduct with a student.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s DepartmentCarissa Jane Smith, 30, in her mug shot at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department on November 12[/caption]
Google MapsDixon Middle School, where Smith met at least one of her alleged victims[/caption]
Smith taught in the Dixon School District in Missouri, about 130 miles southwest of St. Louis.
She allegedly offered money, cannabis, and alcohol to students in exchange for sex for at least a year, according to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.
Cops say she had sex with students at her home and multiple other locations including gravel roads and on roadsides.
One victim told police he was in middle school when Smith approached him for sex, according to his witness statement obtained by NBC affiliate KYTV.
He said he met Smith while she was substituting for his class and offered him her Snapchat.
“Smith began sending them pictures of her breasts and buttocks, along with her nude in the shower,” court documents state, according to the New York Post.
She then told him to keep his mouth shut or they’d get in trouble.
“Mrs. Smith stated, ‘You know you can’t talk about this with anybody?’” court documents said.
She reportedly typically paid the students $100 to have sex with her but occasionally paid them in booze and weed.
The documents show in one incident, Smith smoked marijuana with her alleged victim and her friend Lacey Beam, a former school nurse for the school district.
After dropping Beam off at her home, the victim reported that Smith took him to McDonald’s because her husband was at home with their kids, the docs said.
The sheriff’s office said Smith could face more charges if additional victims come forward.
Investigators said the incidents happened from August 2023 to September 2024.
Smith worked as a long-term sub at Dixon Middle School during the 2022-2023 school year.
School district’s statement
Former substitute teacher Carissa Jane Smith, 30, has been arrested on charges of having sex with her students while she worked at Dixon School District from August 2023 to September 2024.
Dixon School District shared the following statement with NBC affiliate KYTV in response to Smith’s arrest:
“I am writing to advise you of a serious matter involving a former employee of the Dixon R-1 School District, Ms. Carissa Smith,” the statement said.
“We were unable to share this information with you sooner due to the need to allow law enforcement officials to fully investigate without interference.
“Earlier this school year, the District received a report of possible misconduct by Ms. Smith towards at least one District student.
“This report was shared with the authorities responsible for investigating concerns of this nature.
“We cooperated fully with both the Missouri Children’s Division and law enforcement throughout their investigations. We have also been in contact with the impacted families.
“This morning, I learned that Ms. Smith was arrested and taken into custody by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.
“While the District has not received a copy of the charges, public records show that Ms. Smith was charged with nineteen offenses involving sexual misconduct with a minor.
“This is very disturbing and distressing information for everyone in our school community.
“I would like to share with you the steps our school district takes in serious matters such as this. Whenever we receive a report of alleged misconduct by an employee involving a student, the administration initiates an investigation into the matter.
“If the matter involves certain kinds of allegations, we contact the Missouri Children’s Division, and we cooperate with the involved authorities.
“Additionally, to protect all persons involved, the employee is typically placed on administrative leave during the investigation.
“Our Board of Education’s policies set forth our expectations for staff conduct. All employees also participate in annual training regarding appropriate conduct towards students, including appropriate boundaries between District employees and students.
“The District also conducts background checks on employees prior to hiring.
“At all times, our school district’s first and most important mission is to provide the best education possible for our students in a safe and secure environment. Therefore, parents and students should be assured that we are acting, and will continue to act, in accordance with our policies to address this matter and to maintain the safe educational environment that our community deserves and expects.
“We appreciate the patience of our school community as we move through this process.”
She was then a paraprofessional at the district’s high school the following year.
She was hired as a long-term sub at the high school in July but resigned on August 30.
Smith is no longer employed by the school district.
In a statement shared with KYTV, Dixon School District said news of Smith’s alleged crimes was “disturbing and distressing.”
The former sub was arrested on eight counts of statutory rape, one count of statutory sodomy, 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, and one count of patronizing prostitution
She is currently held in jail on a $250,000 bond.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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