Missouri teacher arrested for allegedly sending explicit videos to student, inviting boy to home for sex when husband was away

A Missouri teacher was arrested for reportedly sharing explicit photos and videos with a 16-year-old student. The teacher also allegedly invited the minor to have sex with her at her home while her husband was away.

Rikki Lynn Laughlin – a 25-year-old teacher at St. James High School, located about 95 miles southwest of St. Louis – is accused of being involved in a teacher sex scandal by police in Missouri.

According to KMIZ, Laughlin was arrested on Monday for alleged child sex crimes. She was charged with possession of child pornography, tampering with a victim, second-degree statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, tampering with physical evidence, furnishing pornographic material to a minor, and second-degree child sex trafficking.

An investigation was launched by the Maries County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 19 after the neighboring Phelps County Sheriff's Office notified Maries County that they had received a tip that a St. James High School teacher was having sexual contact with a student.

According to a probable cause statement, Major Scott John said the alleged victim claimed that Laughlin first contacted him on Snapchat.

KSDK reported, "The victim said the conversations escalated quickly and Laughlin sent him nude photos and videos of herself. He said she also requested he send nude photos of himself, which he did on two occasions. The victim said Laughlin also tried to solicit sex from the victim."

The student reportedly told police that Laughlin invited him to her home when her husband was away on Oct. 14. The boy came up with reasons not to show up at the house because he did not feel comfortable, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The boy allegedly informed authorities that he had kissed the teacher in a classroom.

The document also notes that Laughlin allegedly ordered the student to delete all photos and videos she sent him because she was afraid of going to jail.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Laughlin initially denied the relationship with the student to investigators but later allegedly admitted to police that she had been talking with the minor on Snapchat.

When interviewed by police, Laughlin reportedly claimed she didn't know the student was underage until the day before being questioned.

The teacher reportedly allowed police to search her cell phone – where a detective found an explicit video similar to what the student had described.

School district Superintendent Tim Webster did not specifically name Laughlin, but confirmed that a teacher had been "immediately escorted from school property and placed on leave pending investigation."

"The District takes these matters seriously and reported allegations to appropriate outside agencies, including law enforcement," Webster said. "Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our students, and we do not tolerate any policy or law violations within our educational community."

Laughlin's bond was set at $100,000, and her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 20.

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