Ex-Missouri substitute teacher sentenced to 10 years in prison for engaging in sexual relations with students

Former Missouri Teacher Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of Students

A former substitute teacher from Missouri received a 10-year prison sentence this Wednesday for allegedly providing money, alcohol, and drugs to students in return for sexual acts.

Carissa Jane Smith, 31, from Dixon, faced a total of 19 charges, including statutory rape and sexual contact with minors, as reported by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office at the time of her arrest.

In September, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to child endangerment and two counts of sexual contact. The local news outlet reported on her sentencing.

Smith served in the Dixon School District as a long-term substitute paraprofessional and had resigned the previous August following her arrest.

The sheriff’s statement indicated that Smith was known to offer compensation, such as marijuana and money, to students in exchange for sexual favors. According to her admissions, these encounters generally took place while her husband was at work, often in secluded locations.

Investigators revealed that the accused had sexual contact with students at various locations, including private residences and even amidst roadside settings. One victim recounted that Smith had solicited sex while they were still in middle school.

Furthermore, the victims reported that Smith instructed them to keep these encounters hidden from others, highlighting a concerning dynamic of manipulation.

In what adds to the troubling allegations, one victim claimed that Smith’s husband threatened her with a baseball bat after she suggested he was attempting to blackmail her regarding a video of them using marijuana together. This detail emerged during the investigation.