Missouri Substitute Teacher Sentenced for Exploitation of Students

A woman from Missouri, involved in serious misconduct while serving as a substitute teacher, has been sentenced to a decade in prison. Carissa Smith, 31, faced multiple charges for her actions, which included paying students for sex and supplying them with alcohol and drugs.

Smith was arrested last November. The charges leveled against her were extensive, encompassing two counts of sex trafficking of minors, nine counts of statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy, three counts of engaging in sexual contact with a student, and one count of pimping involving a victim under the age of 14.

According to investigators, the offenses took place between August 2023 and September 2024. Those involved reported to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office that Smith, who began working regularly at Dixon Middle School in August 2022 and later at Dixon High School until her resignation in August 2024, had offered financial rewards, marijuana, and alcohol for sexual favors.

The evidence suggests Smith compensated each victim with at least $100 for these acts and discouraged them from mentioning the encounters to anyone else. In one instance, she allegedly informed her husband about a video involving one of the victims that was causing concern. His response was reportedly aggressive, threatening minors with a baseball bat.

Additionally, there are accounts from her brother-in-law, who reportedly saw her in bed with an underage student amidst rumors of a video circulating in their community that allegedly depicted Smith inappropriately involved with a student.

Smith’s actions weren’t limited to her home; victims said that encounters also occurred in various places, including on the roadside. Following her arrest, the Dixon R-I School District Superintendent, Travis Bohler, shared that they had alerted authorities earlier in the year after receiving complaints from at least one student about possible misconduct involving Smith.

Bohler expressed concern, stating, “This is extremely disturbing and distressing information for everyone in our school community.”

While out on bail, Smith faced further issues when she was arrested again in September for witness tampering after being reported at a victim’s home. Her bail of $250,000 was subsequently revoked.

Smith ultimately pleaded guilty on September 17 to two misdemeanor counts related to sexual contact with a student and one count of endangering a child’s welfare. While she could have faced up to 12 years in prison, she was sentenced to 10 years. This case has raised significant concerns about safety and conduct within educational environments.