A former Mexico teacher was sentenced Monday for sexual contact with a student.
Janae Marie Nunnelly, of Mexico, was sentenced to five years of probation during a hearing Monday after pleading guilty to having sexual contact with a student during a court appearance on Oct.14, 2025. If Nunnelly violates the terms of her probation, she will face four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
As part of her probation, Nunnelly was ordered by Judge Richard Scheibe to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and complete treatment if it is deemed necessary, not consume alcohol or enter any bars/liquor stores and attend AA/NA monthly.
Nunnelly was initially charged with two counts of having sexual contact with a student, but one of the charges was dismissed during the October hearing.
The charges stemmed from an investigation after the Mexico Public Safety Department was informed by the school district on Feb. 25, 2025 that Nunnelly, a district employee, had been engaging in a sexual relationship with a current student since June 2024.
During the investigation, one male victim told police that he had two sexual encounters with Nunnelly. Both times, he met Nunnelly in Laddonia who transported him to her residence in Mexico, according to the probable cause statement.
The second male victim, who graduated in 2022, told police that his relationship with Nunnelly began while he was a student and continued until early 2024.
According to the sentencing memorandum, submitted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shelby Park on Jan.9, Nunnelly admitted to three inappropriate relationships with students – two of which were sexual in nature and one involved the use of marijuanna with the student.
Nunnelly also said she did not know her actions were illegal, did not know they were against school policy and does not view 17 year olds as minors, according to the memorandum.
Nunnelly, a Mexico High School graduate, taught at Eugene Field Elementary School. Her employment with the district was terminated Feb. 28, 2025. She began her employment with the district as a paraprofessional in September 2020, according to previous reporting.
