Former Joplin drug counselor faces sex charges

JOPLIN — A former staffer at a Joplin drug and alcohol treatment center for teens is charged with two counts of statutory rape. And police say they're investigating allegations that the 45-year-old woman had sex with three other youths at the center.

Jasper County authorities said Thursday that 45-year-old Jana Carter had consensual sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy at the center twice last month while she was at work. Carter was a supervisor at the Scott Greening Dependency Center at the time of the incidents.

A warrant has been issued for Carter's arrest.

Cpl. Chuck Niess said police are also investigating claims that Carter had sexual relations with three other male teens, ages 16, 16, and 14.

Center director Larry Black said Carter was hired a month before the alleged incidents. He said her background check and references were "clean."