Female WA high school teacher charged with sexual misconduct with 16-year-old student

A Washington state high school teacher is behind bars after allegedly engaging in a months-long sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male student, including multiple encounters on school grounds.

According to law enforcement reports obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Madeline Marie Gregory Scoon, 29, of Cheney, was taken into custody Monday afternoon by Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputies at Sprague Elementary School shortly after students were dismissed for the day. She faces charges of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Both Gregory and the teenage student admitted to the inappropriate relationship during separate interviews with investigators. The alleged misconduct included sexual intercourse and instances where Gregory performed oral sex on the boy, court documents said.

Locations cited in court records include her classroom after hours, a closet in the school gymnasium, and bushes near the school's tennis courts. Gregory also coaches tennis at the school and was recently hired as an assistant tennis coach at Lind-Ritzville schools.

The investigation began when the student's mother discovered explicit text messages between her son and Gregory. Authorities obtained surveillance video showing the pair entering Gregory's classroom after school and remaining inside for over 45 minutes. Additional footage captured them meeting at a Walmart, leaving together in Gregory's car, and returning hours later. Search warrants recovered text messages and further corroborated the claims.

Court documents reveal that Gregory would allegedly declare love for the student, demand that he not date other girls, and insist on keeping their relationship secret. When the boy attempted to end the affair, Gregory reportedly threatened suicide, causing him "significant" emotional harm. She also told him she was filing for divorce from her husband, Caleb Scoon, claiming their marriage was sexless.

Court records indicate staff and students were aware of "rumors" about the relationship, suggesting an internal investigation may have already begun.

In Lincoln County District Court on Tuesday, Judge Dan B. Johnson found probable cause for the charges and set bail at $50,000, lower than the $100,000 requested by Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Albertson, who cited the "concerning" text exchanges and potential risk to others. 

The judge issued a temporary no-contact order prohibiting Gregory from contacting the 16-year-old. If she posts bail and is released, she was ordered not to have contact with minors. A full hearing on a related protection order, obtained by the boy's mother under the state's anti-harassment and stalking laws, is scheduled for March 30. That order requires Gregory to stay at least 1,000 feet away from the boy, his home, school, and vehicle, and bans stalking, tracking, or sharing intimate images.

This incident is the most recent in a growing pattern of Washington educators abusing positions of trust with minors, raising fresh questions about school safeguards and oversight in the state.