ST. JOHN, Wash., A small Whitman County town is reeling after an elementary school teacher was arrested on suspicion of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Deputies took 25-year-old Mackenzie Naught into custody on May 10 and charged her with sexual misconduct with a minor, a case that has left the tight-knit school district on edge as the investigation continues.
Whitman County booking records show Naught was booked on May 10 on a charge listed as “Sexual Misconduct with Minors 1st Degree” and was being held without bail, according to the Whitman County Jail roster. The entry lists the offense under the county's custody records and notes that the case is in the hands of the county prosecutor.
The St. John School District says the employee has been placed on leave and that the district is cooperating with investigators. The district's statement emphasized student privacy and reminded staff to maintain professionalism while the inquiry proceeds, per reporting by FOX 28 Spokane. District and school websites list Naught as a first-grade teacher.
Local outlets have reported additional details about how the case surfaced. According to News4SanAntonio (WOAI), which cited The Spokesman-Review, the alleged victim is 16, and the report says the teacher allegedly told her husband she had sex with the teen. That reporting says screenshots and messages were provided to investigators. Those reported details have not been confirmed by the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, which describes the matter as an active investigation.
Charges and What Washington Law Says
State statute defines sexual misconduct with a minor in the first degree for school employees and treats the offense as a felony when an employee has sexual intercourse with an enrolled student. The relevant law is outlined in RCW 9A.44.093. Under Washington law a class C felony carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison and fines that can reach the court's statutory maximum.
Naught was expected to make an initial appearance in Whitman County Superior Court on Monday, May 11, according to local reporting. Prosecutors and the sheriff’s office say the case remains under active investigation and ask anyone with relevant information to contact the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, per KOZE.
Allegations like this can hit a small rural district hard, and school officials have urged caution and privacy for students as the legal process unfolds. “The employee has been placed on leave and will not be on campus during this process,” the district said in its statement, according to FOX 28 Spokane. Officials say they will share verified updates when appropriate.
