An FBI investigation led to the arrest of former Encanto Elementary School third-grade teacher Gabriel Chacon. Chacon was charged with accessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials involving a 12-year-old.
According to court documents obtained by Arizona’s Family, Chacon denied being “hands on” with a child and told the FBI he only fantasized about the contents.
Under the username “ND Dom,” Chacon, asked the participants in a group chat “what would you do?” if they were teachers and had “three hours to kill alone in your classroom.” In response to one participant who asked for content, Chacon responded, “Yeah man I’ll send you my faves.”
Investigators discovered the group chat existed for the purpose of viewing and sharing child pornography when Chacon unknowingly sent “federally chargeable” images to undercover investigators overseas. He was apprehended after US authorities traced the online profile to a phone number and social media account registered to Chacon.
The district released a public statement that said, in part,
On October 7, 2026, the F.B.I. advised District administrators that Encanto teacher Gabriel Chacon was arrested in connection with distribution of child pornography. We were assured that law enforcement had no information that Osborn Elementary School students were connected in any way to the reported criminal behavior.
The district is facing backlash for waiting a full week before publicizing Chacon’s arrest. Reports say parents were initially notified about Chacon’s administrative leave, not the full nature and context of his illegal behaviors. Although some parents believe their children were not directly harmed by Chacon, many are still concerned about the images in his possession and why the district delayed notification.
Chacon denied having any sexual contact with students in the Osborn School District. He attended a preliminary hearing on October 16. However, no new information about the case has become publicly available.