News Summary
John Magee Gavin, a former teacher from Brookline, faces serious federal charges including coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession of child pornography. He allegedly engaged in online sexual communications with over 20 minors on Discord, soliciting explicit photographs. Investigators found child sexual abuse material on his iPhone, raising public safety concerns. Gavin, expected in federal court soon, could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
Boston – John Magee Gavin, a 35-year-old former teacher from Brookline, has been indicted on serious federal charges related to allegations of online sexual communications with minors. The United States Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced that Gavin faces multiple charges, including coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Gavin, who previously worked as a science teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, has been under scrutiny since February 2025 when he was placed on administrative leave following initial allegations from the Brookline police. Investigators have revealed that Gavin operated an account on Discord, where he allegedly engaged in sexual conversations and solicited explicit photographs from at least 20 underage girls aged between 12 and 17. These minors resided in various states, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, as well as in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Gavin reportedly identified himself as a teacher while engaging with the minors. Allegations suggest that he expressed a sexual interest in certain students, even discussing his sexual fantasies about a freshman student. Further disturbing claims indicate that Gavin participated in online masturbation sessions during conversations with these minors, some of which occurred during school hours.
During the investigation, authorities discovered nearly 150 files of child sexual abuse material on Gavin’s iPhone, which included images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children aged 5 to 17. Law enforcement officials from the Brookline Police Department seized items, including clothing that matched what Gavin was seen wearing in photographs sent to victims.
Since his arrest in February, Gavin has remained in state custody. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston, where the legal ramifications of the charges against him could yield a significant sentence. If convicted, he could face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison, alongside decades of supervised release and hefty fines.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has underscored the potential danger to public safety if Gavin were to be released, indicating that his actions demonstrate a pronounced risk of harm to minors. In February, state charges against him included enticement of a child under age 16 and dissemination of harmful material to minors.
Boston Public Schools undertook extensive employment checks prior to hiring Gavin, including a criminal background check, references, and evaluations of his educational and professional history. Notably, no complaints regarding Gavin surfaced prior to these allegations, as stated by his former employers.
As this case unfolds, the focus remains on the safety and well-being of the minors involved, as well as the broader implications for educational institutions and their responsibility to protect students from potential harm.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Boston
- Wikipedia: Child Exploitation
- WCVB
- Google Search: John Gavin indictment
- MassLive
- Google Scholar: Child Exploitation in Education
- Boston Herald
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Abuse
- WFMJ
- Google News: Boston teacher indicted for child exploitation
