Rikki Laughlin, 25-year-old teacher, allegedly pursued 16-year-old student sexually

Rikki Lynn Laughlin, a teacher in St James, Missouri, has been charged with possession of child pornography, tampering with a victim, attempted statutory rape, sexual exploitation of a minor, tampering with physical evidence, sexual trafficking of a child, and furnishing pornographic materials to minors.

Laughlin, who is 25, allegedly sent pornographic material to the male student and solicited images from him in return.

Prosecutors allege she contacted the boy on Snapchat and sent him nude photos, along with a video of herself using a sex toy, while also prompting him to send her photos of his genitalia.

When the school district told police that a potentially inappropriate relationship was happening, a detective visited the student at his home. According to court documents, the boy said “things progressed fast” and he had kissed Laughlin.

He also said the teacher had invited him to have sex at her home while her husband was away. The student said he’d “made excuses” to avoid meeting Laughlin because he felt uncomfortable about the situation.

When the same detective visited Laughlin at her home, she allegedly acknowledged that she’d received lewd photos from the boy, but claimed he had initiated their contact and she had not been aware he was a minor.

The detective’s report alleges Laughlin told the student she could go to jail for the material they had exchanged and asked him to delete them when rumours about their relationship spread at the school.

Laughlin has a bond hearing scheduled on November 14.