BOSTON— A once-trusted educator has been caught in a web of depravity, facing serious federal charges for the sexual exploitation of at least 20 young girls worldwide.

John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, pleaded guilty to multiple counts including coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The former science teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School was indicted in July following an alarming investigation that revealed his involvement with minors aged 12 to 17 across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Authorities discovered that Gavin allegedly used a Discord account to communicate with these vulnerable girls, engaging in explicit conversations and soliciting sexually explicit photos. Reports indicate he even boasted about his teaching position during these chats, fully aware that he was exploiting minors.

When police searched Gavin's home, they seized electronics that contained 147 files of child sexual abuse material, depicting children as young as five. Shockingly, some of these conversations took place while he was at school, raising serious questions about the safety of his students. Gavin, who had previously worked at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School and served as a paraprofessional with Brookline Public Schools, remains in federal custody as he awaits sentencing scheduled for March 12.

The heinous actions of a trusted teacher have sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many to wonder how someone in such a position could betray the trust placed in them by students and parents alike.