Charging documents say the 35-year-old history teacher had climbed through a 16-year-old student’s bedroom window, using her phone to record the two having sex.
WASHINGTON — Accused of climbing through a student’s bedroom window and filming child sex abuse material, a D.C. high school teacher was arrested by the FBI, US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro announced Friday.
John Aaron Gass, 35, a history teacher at the District of Columbia International School, was charged in connection with federal charges of production / attempted production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and possession of child pornography. Charging documents allege that the 35-year-old had climbed through a 16-year-old student’s bedroom window, using her phone to record the two having sex.
According to a statement from DC International School, staff notified police after learning of the allegations against Gass and fired him.
“The safety and welfare of our students is and will always be our highest priority. As soon as we became aware of the allegations that led to these charges, we immediately notified law enforcement and the appropriate authorities, promptly terminated Mr. Gass’s employment, and took appropriate steps to provide support to the student and staff,” Director of Communications Sarah Siddons said. “We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement, and will continue to support their investigation as needed. We recognize the profound impact this has on our DCI community, and are actively working to support those affected.”
- Production / attempted production of child pornography
- Coercion and enticement
- Possession of child pornography
These instances of sexual abuse were recorded “numerous times,” according to the DOJ, between Oct. 13 and Nov. 9. Although agents believe the two began texting in March.
FBI agents arrested Gass on Thursday morning in Hyattsville, Md., where the teacher lives.
The victim told the Metropolitan Police Department that Gass would usually enter her window around 1 a.m. and leave before her mother woke up for work around 4 a.m. The 16-year-old also told police that the teacher sexually abused her inside a parking garage at the Children’s National Hospital in the back seat of his car, according to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI.
The student reportedly said Gass was starting to make other students at school uncomfortable, offering one-on-one tutoring sessions and making comments about another girl’s appearance.
The Metropolitan Police Department gave information to the FBI on Nov. 21, which led to Gass’s Thursday arrest. The investigation into Gass is being handled by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in its Washington bureau.