The 25 year old former St. John Elementary School 1st grade teacher who pleaded guilty to having sex with a high school junior has been sentenced.
Mackenzie Naught pleaded guilty as charged last month to felony 1st degree sexual misconduct with a child. Naught was arrested in March for having sex with a 16 year old St. John boy.
The standard sentencing range for this case under state law is between six and 12 months in jail. The prosecution and the victim’s mother asked Judge Roger Sandberg for the maximum sentence during a hearing Friday. The defense requested the minimum sentence. Several people testified during the hearing including the victim. Naught also addressed the court and apologized for what she did. You can listen to her emotional apology below.
Judge Sandberg ruled that Washington state law doesn’t completely apply to the circumstances in this case. He found that the law intends to punish teachers for having sex with their students. Judge Sandberg noted that Naught didn’t know the boy through her teaching but as a family friend. He also recognized that Naught has no previous criminal history when he sentenced her to six months in jail. You can listen to some of Judge Sandberg’s decision from the bench below.
Naught was also placed on probation for one year and must register as a sex offender for ten years.
