Missouri Substitute Teacher Carissa Jane Smith Sentenced to 10 Years for Sexually Assaulting Minor Students and Trading Money, Drugs, Alcohol for Sex

Carissa Jane Smith, a 31-year-old married substitute teacher and paraprofessional from Dixon, Missouri, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting minor students and providing them with drugs, alcohol, and money in exchange for sex.

Smith was arrested in November 2024 on 19 counts, including statutory rape and sexual contact with a student, according to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.

Guilty Plea to Reduced Charges

In September 2025, Smith—who last worked at Dixon Middle School—pleaded guilty to:

• one count of endangering the welfare of a child, and

• two counts of sexual contact with a student,

as reported by KRCG-TV. She resigned from the school district in August 2024.

Provided Money, Alcohol, and Marijuana to Underage Students

According to the probable cause statement, Smith gave several victims:

• cash (often $100 or more, including via CashApp),

• marijuana,

• and alcohol

in exchange for sexual acts or to allow her to perform sexual acts on them.

Victims reported that Smith arranged meetings:

• at her home,

• on remote rural roads,

• or while her husband was away for work.

One victim said Smith pressured him for sex while he was still in middle school.

When some boys hesitated, Smith allegedly offered more money until they complied.

Missouri Substitute Teacher Carissa Jane Smith Sentenced to 10 Years for Sexually Assaulting Minor Students and Trading Money, Drugs, Alcohol for Sex

 

Efforts to Hide the Abuse

The victims told investigators that Smith warned them not to tell anyone about their encounters, saying she could “get into trouble.” One victim reported that Smith’s husband threatened him with a baseball bat after learning that students were allegedly attempting to blackmail her with a video showing her smoking marijuana with minors, according to details cited by USA Today from the probable cause affidavit.

In another incident, a student told investigators that Smith smashed his phone after he said he had recorded one of their encounters, allegedly to destroy any evidence of the crime, court documents stated. In yet another episode, Smith’s brother-in-law reportedly caught her in bed with an underage student after hearing rumors of a circulating video.

The Dixon School District released a statement following her arrest expressing shock, calling Smith’s alleged conduct “disturbing and distressing.” The district noted she had resigned in August 2024 and emphasized that her behavior was a severe violation of trust and professional standards.

Smith’s sentence includes six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for endangering the welfare of a child, along with two years for each of the two counts of sexual contact with a student — totaling ten years in state prison.