Teacher Arrested for Institutional Sexual Assault Charges

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Justin White, a teacher at Canon-McMillan High School, has been charged with 13 counts of institutional sexual assault and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. The investigation revealed inappropriate communications and interactions with a former student, beginning before she turned 18 and continuing after. Following the discovery of explicit messages by the victim’s father, White turned himself in and was placed on administrative leave. The Canon-McMillan School District is cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.

Washington, PA – Justin White, a 48-year-old teacher at Canon-McMillan High School, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of institutional sexual assault and one count of criminal use of a communication facility. The charges stem from an investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship with a former student, which began when the victim was a senior at the school and continued after she turned 18 years old.

White turned himself in to law enforcement authorities with his lawyer present and was immediately taken into custody. He was placed in handcuffs before being escorted to a police cruiser. His bond has been set at $150,000, and he has been ordered not to have any contact with the victim or the Canon-McMillan School District.

The investigation was initiated after a concerned father discovered explicit messages and images on his daughter’s phone. After reporting these findings to the police, authorities began looking into the nature of the communications between White and the victim. The inappropriate relationship reportedly escalated in October 2023 when the victim turned 18; however, the earlier exchanges were deemed inappropriate due to the teacher-student dynamic.

According to the evidence collected, White and the victim exchanged over 8,000 messages and more than 14,000 emails over several months. Some of these exchanges occurred via the school district’s official email server, which violates institutional sexual assault laws. White reportedly gifted the victim items such as a necklace and a burner phone intended for private conversations.

The alleged sexual encounters took place in various locations, including White’s classroom during school hours, a park-and-ride lot, and industrial facilities. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh noted that White misused his position of trust as an educator, exploiting the vulnerable relationship inherent in a teacher-student dynamic.

In response to the investigation, the Canon-McMillan School District has stated that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement and that White was immediately placed on administrative leave following the emergence of the allegations. The district emphasized its commitment to providing a safe environment for all students and taking concerns seriously.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 5, 2025, as the case continues to unfold. The investigation remains active, with the North Strabane Police and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office continuing to pursue additional details connected to the incidents.

This incident raises significant concerns within the community regarding the safety and well-being of students in educational settings. The ongoing investigation aims to uphold accountability and ensure that similar abuses of power do not occur in the future.

Teacher Arrested for Sexual Assault in Washington, PA

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