Former elementary teacher sentenced for felony sexual misconduct with a minor

ST. JOHN, Washington (The Lewiston Tribune) — A former St. John Elementary School teacher was sent to jail for having sex with a teenage boy.

Mackenzie Naught, 25, pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor last month in Colfax’s Whitman County Superior Court.

On Friday, Judge Roger Sandberg sentenced Naught to six months in jail for the felony. Sandberg had the option to impose a one-year sentence, but didn’t feel the punishment met Washington’s legal statutes.

Washington’s laws specifically involving cases of sexual misconduct between teachers and students, as he explained, is based a disparity of power more than age.

Sandberg noted that while Naught was a teacher, she didn’t meet the minor through her role as an educator.

“The relationship has sort of an independent basis,” Sandberg said. “Ms. Naught does not fit squarely within the conduct that is being intended to be penalized here.”

Sandberg also took into consideration that Naught has no previous criminal history. He mentioned the case was a very public incident, and that Naught will likely never teach again despite the “considerable effort” she put into obtaining her master’s degree.

“It’s going to be impossible for her to escape this going forward,” Sandberg said. “I have to impose a sentence, but honestly, I feel really about 80%, if not more, of the sentence has already been imposed.”

Naught was arrested in May after her husband reported to police that she was having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

Court documents say he found evidence on her phone that she had sexual contact with the teenager. Investigators confirmed the allegation after interviewing the boy, and Naught later admitted to the sexual relationship while being questioned.

“She knew better,” Senior Deputy Prosecutor Tessa Scholl said in court. “And she chose to violate that trust placed in her.”

“Parents send their children to school believing that adults entrusted in their education will protect them, guide them and maintain appropriate boundaries … Students are entitled to believe that their teachers will not exploit their vulnerability or the authority that comes with being a teacher,” she said.

Emotional testimonies came from both sides of the courtroom. The victim and his family spoke to the profound impact Naught’s actions had on them, and the lasting damage to their community.

Naught’s family and mentors spoke to her character and ability to take responsibility for her actions.

Naught also provided testimony and an apology for her misconduct.

“I exploited this person,” she said. “And in doing so, I created a world of hurt and pain for him and his family. And for that, I want to express my deepest remorse.”

In addition to jail time, Sandberg also ordered that Naught be placed on probation for one year following her release, register as a sex offender for 10 years, and have no contact with the victim for five years.