Fairfax Public School teacher accused of sexual assault on students

A local elementary teacher faces criminal charges after was alleged to have sexually assaulted two of her students.

Fairfax County Child Protective Services received an anonymous tip from the Fairfax County Police Department on January 17 indicating that a Fairview Elementary (5815 Ox Road), Fairfax Station student had been sexually abused by a teacher.

The student was not hurt. The Fairfax County Police Department released a statement today (Friday) saying that detectives had been notified of the incident and took over the investigation.

Police say that after an investigation, they found out that John Barger (47-year-old Springfield resident) had sexually abused two students at different times.

A spokesperson for the department said that the department was “unable” comment on dates of the alleged assaults.

Barger was arrested on Thursday and charged with two counts aggravated sexual battery. This charge is applicable in cases when the victim is younger than 13 years. Virginia law allows for a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 20 years state prison.

Barger was placed on administrative leave by the FCPD after Fairfax County Public Schools learned of the allegations. Fairview’s Staff Directory no longer lists him, but police claim he’s been working for FCPS since 2017.

Barger is FCPS’s second teacher to face charges of assaulting a child in February. The FCPD announced last weekend that a substitute at Dogwood Elementary in Reston, Virginia was charged with for allegedly assaulting during school hours.