Latest news with #St.JamesHighSchool
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Special education teacher groomed student with nudes and sex toy video
Rikki Laughlin, 26, sent multiple nude pictures and a video of her using a sex toy to the student on the social media app before attempting to pressure him into having sex A married special education teacher has pleaded guilty to sending nudes to a 16-year-old student on Snapchat and pressuring him to have sex. Rikki Laughlin, 26, sent multiple nude pictures and a video of her using a sex toy to the student on the social media app. The student reportedly told authorities that 'things progressed fast' after the Snapchat messages and that he and Laughlin had kissed. The teenager "made excuses" because "he did not feel comfortable" when the teacher tried to take things further, police heard. It comes after a teacher who "murdered hikers in front of their kids' was "cold" to his students. Laughlin pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk. She was a teacher at St. James High School in Missouri at the time of the crimes between September 8 and October 19, 2023. Laughlin was sentenced to five years of probation last week. It comes after a primary school teacher who searched for "Japanese schoolgirls" and "jailbait" was sacked after police discovered he shared indecent images and videos of children as young as six. Steven Spong, 30, had been teaching at Monkwick Junior School in Colchester when he was arrested in July, 2022, after authorities found he uploaded child abuse images online. In October 2022, he was fired by the school following a police investigation into his conduct. Police decided to take no further action against Spong because the images were not found on his devices. Instead, he was referred to Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). The misconduct hearing, which was held this year, heard how police identified 16 videos and images that had been uploaded to the internet from Spong's home IP address. They included nine videos in category A, the most serious kind. Some of the children in the images were as young as six years old. The other uploads included two Category B videos, one Category B image, two Category C images and one Category C video. Spong also confessed to searching for "Japanese teenagers" and "Japanese schoolgirls" to find pornographic images of people that looked under 18-years-old, along with the term "jailbait." Spong denied any wrongdoing during disciplinary proceedings and the police investigation but admitted the facts in full ahead of the misconduct hearing. He also admitted that his conduct was sexually motivated. Decision maker Marc Cavey said: "The panel noted that, whilst the conduct took place outside the education setting, the nature of the alleged conduct relates directly to the conduct expected of those within the teaching profession and the standards which they are expected to uphold."
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Teacher, Accused Of Sending Nude Photos To Student, Saves Herself From Jail Term. Here's What She Did
The teacher ultimately confessed that she endangered the welfare of a child in the first degree, a lesser charge that does not carry mandatory jail time. A 26-year-old Missouri special education teacher has pleaded guilty after being accused of sending inappropriate content to a 16-year-old student, according to reports. Rikki Lynn Laughlin, a former teacher at St. James High School in St. James, Missouri, was under investigation for allegedly sending the student nude images and videos via Snapchat between September 8 and October 19, 2023. According to Maries County investigators cited by KRCG, the student reported that Laughlin had contacted him on Snapchat, kissed him during the class and also tried to persuade him into a physical relationship. According to the student, 'things progressed fast" after the Snapchat exchange. He also claimed that she invited him to her home on October 14. When Laughlin allegedly invited him to have sex, he 'made excuses" as shared with the officials, adding that 'he did not feel comfortable." Charges On Laughlin Laughlin was initially facing serious charges. On October 23, 2023, prosecutors formally charged the education teacher with multiple offenses which included possession of child pornography, tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution, second-degree statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, tampering with physical evidence, furnishing pornographic material to a minor and second-degree sex trafficking of a child under the age of 18. The charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. The teacher ultimately confessed that she endangered the welfare of a child in the first degree, a lesser charge that does not carry mandatory jail time. She was sentenced to five years of probation last week. The Formal Probe According to KSDK, the investigation into Rikki Lynn Laughlin began after a Phelps County detective notified Maries County officials about the inappropriate relationship between the teacher and a student at St James High School. After being alerted, authorities launched a formal probe into the allegations. As the case gained traction, a change of venue was granted and the proceedings were officially moved to Grundy County in May 2023, as reported. The transfer was done to ensure a fair legal process and public attention. The case has attracted significant public attention due to the allegations levelled against Laughlin and the result of the legal proceedings. view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 07:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Teacher, Accused Of Sending Nude Photos To Student, Saves Himself From Jail Term. Here's What She Did
The teacher ultimately confessed that she endangered the welfare of a child in the first degree, a lesser charge that does not carry mandatory jail time. A 26-year-old Missouri special education teacher has pleaded guilty after being accused of sending inappropriate content to a 16-year-old student, according to reports. Rikki Lynn Laughlin, a former teacher at St. James High School in St. James, Missouri, was under investigation for allegedly sending the student nude images and videos via Snapchat between September 8 and October 19, 2023. According to Maries County investigators cited by KRCG, the student reported that Laughlin had contacted him on Snapchat, kissed him during the class and also tried to persuade him into a physical relationship. According to the student, 'things progressed fast" after the Snapchat exchange. He also claimed that she invited him to her home on October 14. When Laughlin allegedly invited him to have sex, he 'made excuses" as shared with the officials, adding that 'he did not feel comfortable." Charges On Laughlin Laughlin was initially facing serious charges. On October 23, 2023, prosecutors formally charged the education teacher with multiple offenses which included possession of child pornography, tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution, second-degree statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, tampering with physical evidence, furnishing pornographic material to a minor and second-degree sex trafficking of a child under the age of 18. The charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. The teacher ultimately confessed that she endangered the welfare of a child in the first degree, a lesser charge that does not carry mandatory jail time. She was sentenced to five years of probation last week. The Formal Probe According to KSDK, the investigation into Rikki Lynn Laughlin began after a Phelps County detective notified Maries County officials about the inappropriate relationship between the teacher and a student at St James High School. After being alerted, authorities launched a formal probe into the allegations. As the case gained traction, a change of venue was granted and the proceedings were officially moved to Grundy County in May 2023, as reported. The transfer was done to ensure a fair legal process and public attention. The case has attracted significant public attention due to the allegations levelled against Laughlin and the result of the legal proceedings. view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 07:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Teacher, Accused Of Sending Nude Photos To Student, Saves Himself From Jail Term. Here's What He Did
The teacher ultimately confessed that she endangered the welfare of a child in the first degree, a lesser charge that does not carry mandatory jail time. A 26-year-old Missouri special education teacher has pleaded guilty after being accused of sending inappropriate content to a 16-year-old student, according to reports. Rikki Lynn Laughlin, a former teacher at St. James High School in St. James, Missouri, was under investigation for allegedly sending the student nude images and videos via Snapchat between September 8 and October 19, 2023. According to Maries County investigators cited by KRCG, the student reported that Laughlin had contacted him on Snapchat, kissed him during the class and also tried to persuade him into a physical relationship. According to the student, 'things progressed fast" after the Snapchat exchange. He also claimed that she invited him to her home on October 14. When Laughlin allegedly invited him to have sex, he 'made excuses" as shared with the officials, adding that 'he did not feel comfortable." Charges On Laughlin Laughlin was initially facing serious charges. On October 23, 2023, prosecutors formally charged the education teacher with multiple offenses which included possession of child pornography, tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution, second-degree statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, tampering with physical evidence, furnishing pornographic material to a minor and second-degree sex trafficking of a child under the age of 18. The charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. The teacher ultimately confessed that she endangered the welfare of a child in the first degree, a lesser charge that does not carry mandatory jail time. She was sentenced to five years of probation last week. The Formal Probe According to KSDK, the investigation into Rikki Lynn Laughlin began after a Phelps County detective notified Maries County officials about the inappropriate relationship between the teacher and a student at St James High School. After being alerted, authorities launched a formal probe into the allegations. As the case gained traction, a change of venue was granted and the proceedings were officially moved to Grundy County in May 2023, as reported. The transfer was done to ensure a fair legal process and public attention. The case has attracted significant public attention due to the allegations levelled against Laughlin and the result of the legal proceedings. view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 07:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Sky News AU
Married special education teacher from Missouri pleads guilty to sending nudes to student on Snapchat
A married special education teacher from Missouri has admitted to sending nude images to a 16-year-old student, but avoided jail after more severe charges including statutory rape and sex trafficking of a child were dropped. Rikki Lynn Laughlin, 26, sent X-rated photos and a video of herself using a sex toy to the teen student over Snapchat, as well as soliciting nude pics of the boy and trying to pressure him into having sex, according to Maries County investigators, KRGC reported. Laughlin pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child creating substantial risk – 1st degree – 1st offense – no sexual conduct last Thursday, according to the report. She was a teacher at St. James High School in St. James, MO, around 75 miles southwest of St. Louis, at the time of the crimes between Sept. 8 and Oct. 19, 2023. On Oct. 23 last year, prosecutors charged Laughlin with felony counts of possession of child pornography, tamper or attempt to tamper with a victim in a felony prosecution, statutory rape – 2nd degree, sexual exploitation of a minor, tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, furnishing pornographic material to a minor, and sexual trafficking of a child – 2nd degree – under 18 years of age. Laughlin was sentenced to five years of probation last week. The student reportedly told police that 'things progressed fast' after the Snapchat exchange and that he and Laughlin had kissed. When she allegedly invited him to have sex, he 'made excuses' because 'he did not feel comfortable,' a probable cause statement by the Maries County Sheriff's Office states. Maries County officials first launched an investigation after a Phelps County detective tipped them off about an inappropriate relationship at the school, KSDK reported at the time, citing the statement. The case was transferred to Grundy County on a change of venue in May last year, KTTN reported. Originally published as Married special education teacher from Missouri pleads guilty to sending nudes to student on Snapchat
