A Washington state teacher has admitted to having sex with a 16-year-old boy and secured a plea deal that significantly reduces her potential jail time. Mackenzie Naught, 25, formerly a first-grade teacher at St. John Elementary School, pleaded guilty Friday to sexual misconduct with a minor.
Initially charged with a crime that carried a maximum of five years in prison, Naught now faces a maximum of 12 months in county jail under the terms of the agreement. Whitman County senior deputy prosecutor Tessa Scholl stated that Naught's admission is a crucial step in accountability and spares the victim the ordeal of testifying at a trial.
The case came to light when Naught's husband, an assistant track coach at the high school attended by the minor, reported her to the police. He had confronted her after she confessed her behavior with the boy. Although Naught initially denied the allegations to investigators, her husband provided cell phone screenshots that corroborated the teen's account.
The student told police that Naught initiated contact by being "flirty" and sending secret messages while her husband slept, urging him to meet her. He stated that he was initially hesitant but eventually agreed. According to the boy, Naught asked him to drive to a secluded location, where the encounter occurred in his truck. He also reported that Naught had instructed him to keep their interaction secret, fearing she would lose her job.
Naught has since apologized for her actions, acknowledging her behavior was wrong. As part of the plea agreement, she will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years. The report also noted that Naught is divorcing her husband, who initially reported her to authorities.