DC teacher charged with production of child pornography and abuse

A Washington, D.C., high school teacher has been arrested and charged with the production of child pornography and enticement of a minor, the Justice Department announced.  

John Gass, a history teacher at the District of Columbia International School, was arrested Dec. 11 at his home in Maryland. Prosecutors allege Gass was sexually abusing a child over a period of several months. 

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Gass would climb through the victim’s bedroom window to sexually abuse her. On at least two instances, he allegedly used the victim’s phone to record explicit videos of himself and the child. Prosecutors allege it started in the spring of 2025. 

Gass has been terminated from his teaching position, according to reports. The school told WTOP News the “safety and welfare of our students is and will always be our highest priority.”  

“We have been cooperating fully with law enforcement, and will continue to support their investigation as needed,” a school spokesperson said. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen. No additional victims have been identified. 

The investigation is being led by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The case is also part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, a nationwide effort to combat the online exploitation and abuse of children.