A former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly engaging in illegal activities involving minors. John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, faces charges including coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Gavin is currently held on related state charges and is scheduled to appear in federal court on July 21.
According to court documents, Gavin previously worked as a teacher at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School and was also a paraprofessional with Brookline Public Schools. In January 2025, he was identified as the owner of a Discord account used to message underage females across various states and countries. He allegedly engaged in inappropriate conversations and requested explicit images from these minors.
Authorities arrested Gavin in February after discovering evidence at his residence. A forensic review reportedly found numerous files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his iPhone. Additional analysis of his Discord account revealed chats where he engaged in sexualized interactions with minors while working at school.
The charges against Gavin carry significant penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the indictment alongside Ted E. Docks from the FBI’s Boston Division. The investigation received support from multiple agencies, including the Brookline Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse nationwide since its launch by the Department of Justice in 2006.
The allegations remain unproven until established beyond reasonable doubt in court.
