Teacher McKenna Kindred pleads guilty to sexual student relationship but won't go to jail

A former Washington state high school teacher accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with one of her students pleaded guilty to the crime but will face no jail time under an agreed plea bargain, court records show.

McKenna Aileen Kindred, who taught at Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree sexual misconduct and one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes, according to Spokane County Superior Court records obtained by USA TODAY.

Both charges are misdemeanors.

The city is the largest suburb of Spokane, located in east Washington.

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Details of McKenna Kindred's plea deal

In addition to the charge of communication with a minor for immoral purposes, Kindred, 25, was initially charged with felony first-degree sexual misconduct, court documents show.

She had been set to go to trial on both charges this month, but under a deal reached between her defense attorney and the state attorney's office, she plead guilty to the lesser misdemeanor charges, court records show.

According to a plea agreement, approved by the judge, the crimes took place between June 2022 and November 2022 and involved a 17-year-old high school student.

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McKenna Kindred now a sex offender for life

Court documents show Superior Court Judge Dean Chuang suspended Kindred's sentence but said she must participate in two years of probation, pay a fine and told her she is not permitted to have contact with the victim.

She must also register as a sex offender, the judge ruled.

"As a result of my actions, I've lost my career, valuable friendships, freedoms and have let down countless people who placed their trust in me," Kindred told the judge during her sentencing hearing captured on video by KXLY-TV. "I am deeply ashamed of the pain I have caused."

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McKenna Kindred's husband was out of town when pair had sex

Kindred was arrested in 2022 and has been free on bond since then, court records show.

At the time of the offense, court records continue, Kindred was married.

The Spokane-Review reported some of the student's classmates came forward with accusations Kindred and the boy had been inappropriately messaging through Instagram and he became "defensive when they questioned him about the relationship."

The boy's mother also told deputies she learned her son was having a sex with Kindred and they had been sharing "explicit photos" with each other, the outlet reported. During an interview with police, the boy admitted the pair had sex when her husband was out of town.

Kindred was placed on administrative leave at the school in 2022 and resigned last year, KHQ-TV reported.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.