The ex–Central Valley High School educator must register as a sex offender for 10 years and pay a $700 fine.
SPOKANE, Wash. — A former Central Valley High School teacher, McKenna Kindred, pleaded guilty in March 2024 to amended misdemeanor charges after authorities said she had sex with a 17-year-old student at her home in November 2022. A Spokane County judge sentenced her to two years of probation and required sex-offender registration.
The case drew attention because Kindred was initially charged with first-degree sexual misconduct, a felony, before prosecutors and defense attorneys reached a plea agreement that reduced the counts to second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. The sentence included 24 months of community supervision, a $700 assessment, and a 10-year registration requirement. The student’s mother told the court the abuse caused lasting harm to her son. District records show Kindred was placed on leave in late 2022 and resigned the following year.
Investigators said rumors began circulating at Central Valley High School in late 2022 after classmates noticed messages between Kindred and the 17-year-old, who had connected with her on Instagram months earlier. On Dec. 1, 2022, administrators were alerted to concerns and law enforcement began reviewing screenshots and texts. Court filings describe the teen telling deputies he visited Kindred’s Liberty Lake-area home in mid-November while her husband was away and that they had sex there. At sentencing on March 28, 2024, Kindred apologized in prepared remarks, saying she had “lost [her] career” and was “deeply ashamed” of the pain caused, according to statements read in open court.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Dean Chuang imposed probation in line with a joint recommendation from attorneys. The judge also ordered Kindred to register as a sex offender for 10 years and to pay $700 in fines and fees. The student’s mother, identified in court as Ashley Beckley, told the court the misconduct “stripped” her son of opportunities and forced him off his school’s campus learning environment. District officials said Kindred had been placed on administrative leave soon after the allegations surfaced and later left the job. Authorities have not alleged force in the encounter, but state law treats sexual contact between a school employee and a teen student as a crime because of the power imbalance. Police and prosecutors have not released additional investigative reports beyond the charging and plea documents.
Public records outline the case’s path. In April 2023, prosecutors charged Kindred with first-degree sexual misconduct and communication with a minor for immoral purposes, citing messages and interviews. On March 28, 2024, she pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanors, avoiding jail but remaining under community supervision. People familiar with the matter said the text exchanges referenced jealousy, efforts to hide communications, and plans to meet. After the conviction, educator-licensing files show she later agreed to surrender an Idaho teaching certificate in 2025. The documents do not say whether she sought employment in schools after leaving Central Valley, and her current occupation is not listed in court files.
The Central Valley School District faced follow-up scrutiny when a civil lawsuit was filed in April 2024 alleging the district failed to prevent the misconduct. The suit, filed in Spokane County Superior Court, argues officials should have acted sooner once rumors surfaced among students. The district has said it cooperates with law enforcement and follows reporting laws; it has not filed a detailed response in the public docket beyond general denials typical at the start of litigation. The lawsuit remains pending, and no trial date has been posted in the online schedule.
State ethics and licensing agencies documented collateral consequences beyond the criminal sentence. Washington records show her resignation in 2023 after administrative leave began in December 2022. An Idaho Professional Standards Commission agreement filed in 2025 states she voluntarily surrendered a certificate there in lieu of further proceedings. The surrender order lists an exceptional child education endorsement and notes her Washington conviction and registration requirement. The order does not change the Washington court sentence, but it limits her ability to work in public schools subject to Idaho licensing rules.
Neighbors near the Liberty Lake area told reporters the case rattled conversations about boundaries between teachers and students and about how fast rumors spread on campus. In court, the student’s mother described weeks of sleepless nights and said her son’s social and academic life was disrupted. “A light he used to carry has been dimmed,” she said. Kindred, speaking quietly at the lectern, said she accepted responsibility and that many people had “placed their trust” in her. She did not answer questions outside the courtroom after sentencing. Prosecutors said the plea spared the teen from testifying at trial and ensured registration and supervision terms were in place.
As of today, Kindred remains on probation tied to the March 28, 2024 judgment and is required to keep current with sex-offender registration for 10 years under the court order. The civil suit against the district continues moving through preliminary phases, and any future hearings will be scheduled by Spokane County Superior Court. No additional criminal charges have been announced.
Author note: Last updated February 1, 2026.