A married elementary school teacher in Washington state has been charged with sexual misconduct after allegedly admitting to having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old boy inside a pickup truck. Mackenzie Naught, 25, was arrested at her home in St. John on Sunday following a report from her husband, Garrett Naught, who uncovered the affair.
Details of the Incident
According to court documents obtained by The Spokesman-Review, Naught engaged in sexual activity with the teenager in the early hours of May 3. The boy, whose family is reportedly friends with the Naughts, had been messaging the first-grade teacher and her husband on Snapchat. After Garrett went to sleep, Naught and the teen continued messaging. The boy told police that Naught was "being flirty" and attempted to arrange a meeting.
The teen agreed to pick her up from her street around 2:15 a.m. He drove her to Harwood Hill, a rural agricultural area, where they talked before Naught initiated kissing and became "handsy." They then had sex inside the vehicle and in the truck bed. The boy dropped Naught near her home around 4 a.m.
Husband Reports Affair
Garrett Naught, 24, reported the affair to police late Saturday night after the boy confessed via a voice call and Snapchat. Garrett told authorities he knows the teen and his family well, as he serves as the assistant track coach at the boy's high school. Naught was arrested on Sunday after the boy and his mother met with deputies at the Whitman County Sheriff's Office.
Initially denying the encounter, Naught later confirmed the boy's account. She admitted knowing the teen was 16 but claimed he felt "like one of their friends." She apologized, acknowledged the wrongdoing, and asked the boy not to tell anyone.
Legal Proceedings
Naught made her first court appearance on Monday and was jailed in lieu of a $10,000 bond on a charge of first-degree sexual conduct with a minor. The age of consent in Washington is 16, and investigators have not clarified the victim's age at the time of the alleged assault.
Naught had been teaching first grade at St. John Elementary School since September 2025. The district placed her on leave, with Superintendent Tina Strong stating: "At this time, St. John School District is aware of allegations involving a district employee... The employee has been placed on leave and will not be on campus during this process." Strong emphasized the district's commitment to student safety and requested community respect during the investigation.
