News Summary
John Magee Gavin, a former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, faces multiple federal charges, including child coercion and child pornography. The allegations stem from his interactions with underage girls on Discord, with reports detailing explicit sexual conversations and material solicitation. Gavin’s arrest followed the discovery of 147 files of child sexual abuse material on his phone. The investigation is ongoing as authorities remain vigilant about child safety in educational settings.
Boston – John Magee Gavin, a 35-year-old former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, has been indicted on multiple federal charges related to child exploitation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The indictment includes serious allegations of coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Gavin is currently in state custody and was scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Monday morning. The charges stem from his alleged interactions with at least one underage female, during which he is accused of coercing her into engaging in sexual online conversations and requesting child sexual abuse material.
Details of Indictment
The indictment specifies three federal charges against Gavin:
- Coercion and enticement of a minor
- Receipt of child pornography
- Possession of child pornography
Investigation Findings
The investigation into Gavin began in January when he was identified as a user on the messaging platform Discord. Reports indicate that he communicated with at least 20 underage girls, aged 12 to 17, from various locations including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Gavin reportedly identified himself as a teacher and engaged the minors in explicit sexual conversations, often soliciting nude images despite being fully aware of their ages.
Gavin was arrested in February and initially faced charges of enticing a child under 16 and possession of child pornography in Brookline District Court. Subsequent searches of his residence revealed a troubling cache of material on his phone that included 147 files identified as child sexual abuse material. These files reportedly contained 94 images and 53 videos depicting the rape of minors ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old.
Behavior and Prior Employment
According to the investigation, Gavin allegedly participated in online masturbation sessions with underage girls and solicited explicit images while engaging in sexualized conversations, even during school hours. Reports indicate that he expressed sexual interest in specific students from Josiah Quincy Upper School, including one particular freshman student, and had fantasized openly about engaging in sexual activities with her.
Before his tenure at Josiah Quincy, Gavin taught sixth grade at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School and served as a paraprofessional at Brookline Public Schools, further complicating the situation given his access to young students throughout his career.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation also included forensic analysis of Gavin’s Discord account, uncovering more instances of inappropriate communication with underage girls. Authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information related to the case to reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for assistance.
As the legal proceedings get underway, the community remains on alert over the disturbing allegations against Gavin, a man who held a position of trust and responsibility in the educational setting. The ramifications of these charges could hold significant implications for child safety and the integrity of educational institutions.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Boston
- Wikipedia: Child exploitation
- WHDH
- Google Search: John Gavin child exploitation
- WCVB
- Google Scholar: Child exploitation legal cases
- Hoodline
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child exploitation
- MSN News
- Google News: John Gavin
