Who Is Trinidad Chavez Gasca? Pasco Teacher Arrest

Trinidad Chavez Gasca is a 32-year-old Washington teacher accused of sexual misconduct involving a Pasco High School student. Franklin County prosecutors have charged Chavez Gasca with three counts of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. Court documents allege that he engaged in repeated sexual contact with the student while she was enrolled at Pasco High School and was 18 during at least part of the alleged conduct. Chavez Gasca pleaded not guilty on August 28, 2026, and is scheduled for a jury trial in November. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. [NonStop Local]

Trinidad Chavez Gasca Arrest

Chavez Gasca Was Arrested On August 24, 2026. Chavez Gasca turned himself in to Pasco police and was booked into the Franklin County Jail. Court records list three counts of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. [NonStop Local]

Bail Was Set At $250,000. A judge set Chavez Gasca’s bail at $250,000 and issued a no-contact order protecting the alleged victim. [NonStop Local]

Chavez Gasca Later Posted Bail. After his August 28 court appearance, NonStop Local reported that Chavez Gasca had been released after posting the $250,000 bail. The no-contact order remained in effect. [NonStop Local]

Investigation Into Trinidad Chavez Gasca

Police Began Investigating After A Mental Health Counselor Contacted Authorities. According to the probable-cause declaration, Pasco police received a report on May 21, 2026, after a counselor contacted officers concerning a student patient. [NonStop Local]

The Student Had Previously Made A Partial Disclosure. Newer court reporting says the student first partially disclosed the alleged relationship to a counselor in January 2026. The counselor reported the matter to police in May, and investigators later conducted a recorded interview with the student. [NonStop Local]

Allegations Involving A Pasco High School Student

Investigators Say Chavez Gasca Had Known The Student Since She Entered Pasco High School. Court documents say the student first began spending time in Chavez Gasca’s classroom in September 2021 after entering Pasco High School. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

Court Records Describe Inappropriate Personal Conversations. Investigators allege Chavez Gasca asked the student questions about her sexual activity, including whether she had used a condom during an encounter with another person. The allegation is part of the probable-cause account and has not been proven in court. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

The Student Alleged Chavez Gasca Gave Her Sexually Explicit Notes. Police say Chavez Gasca exchanged sexually explicit written messages with the student while she was enrolled at Pasco High School. [NonStop Local]

Chavez Gasca Allegedly Asked To See Explicit Photographs Of The Student. Court documents say the student showed Chavez Gasca nude photographs on her phone and that he later allegedly asked to see additional images. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

Alleged Sexual Conduct In The Classroom

Investigators Allege The Sexual Conduct Occurred At Pasco High School. The probable-cause declaration says the alleged misconduct happened at school while the student remained enrolled. [NonStop Local]

The Student Accused Chavez Gasca Of Repeated Sexual Contact. Court records allege Chavez Gasca locked his classroom door and touched the student sexually. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

Some Of The Alleged Conduct Occurred While Other Students Were Nearby. The probable-cause reporting says other students were sometimes only several feet away while some of the alleged conduct occurred. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

Investigators Allege Chavez Gasca And The Student Had Sex Twice. Court documents allege the relationship eventually included intercourse on two occasions. Chavez Gasca has pleaded not guilty to the charges. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

The Student Was 18

The Alleged Victim Was 18 During At Least Part Of The Alleged Conduct. Court records say the student was 18 during the period covered by the charges. [NonStop Local]

Washington Law Covers Certain Sexual Relationships Between School Employees And Students Younger Than 21. The student’s status as a legal adult does not automatically make the alleged conduct lawful under Washington’s educator-student sexual misconduct statutes. [NonStop Local]

Student Later Described The Relationship As Grooming

The Student Initially Viewed The Alleged Conduct As A Romantic Relationship. According to court documents, the student originally considered what allegedly happened between herself and Chavez Gasca to be a relationship rather than criminal misconduct. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

She Later Told Investigators She Believed She Had Been Groomed. The probable-cause account says the student reconsidered the relationship in early May 2026 and concluded that she had been groomed. She later disclosed additional information to her counselor and investigators. [Tri-City Herald via AOL]

Trinidad Chavez Gasca Teaching Career

Chavez Gasca Worked As A Math Teacher At Pasco High School. Police say he taught mathematics at Pasco High School during the period covered by the allegations. [NonStop Local]

He Was Later Listed As A Math Teacher At Sageview High School. When his arrest became public, Chavez Gasca was listed as a mathematics teacher at Sageview High School, another Pasco School District campus. [Conexión Local]

Pasco School District Response

The District Placed Chavez Gasca On Administrative Leave In May 2026. Pasco School District said police notified officials on May 22 that Chavez Gasca was under investigation. The district placed him on administrative leave that same day. [NonStop Local]

The District Called The Allegations A Potential Serious Breach Of Trust. Pasco School District said that if true, the allegations would represent a serious breach of trust and a departure from the standards expected of district employees. [NonStop Local]

The District Has Declined Further Comment While The Case Is Pending. Following Chavez Gasca’s court appearance, the district said it would not provide additional information while the criminal investigation and prosecution remained active. [NonStop Local]

Trinidad Chavez Gasca Criminal Charges

Chavez Gasca Faces Three Counts Of First-Degree Sexual Misconduct With A Minor. Those felony counts arise from prosecutors’ allegations involving sexual conduct with the student while Chavez Gasca was a school employee. [NonStop Local]

He Also Faces One Count Of Second-Degree Sexual Misconduct With A Minor. The case therefore includes four felony charges. [NonStop Local]

Chavez Gasca Pleads Not Guilty

Chavez Gasca Pleaded Not Guilty On August 28, 2026. He appeared in Franklin County Superior Court and denied all four charges. [NonStop Local]

His Next Court Appearance Is Scheduled For September 22. The judge set another hearing for September 22 as the criminal case proceeds. [NonStop Local]

A Jury Trial Is Scheduled For November 9, 2026. The court set the case for trial in November. Criminal trial dates can be postponed or otherwise changed as proceedings develop. [NonStop Local]

Case Status

Chavez Gasca Is Free On Bail While Awaiting Trial. As of August 30, 2026, he had posted the $250,000 bail and remained subject to the court’s no-contact order involving the alleged victim. [NonStop Local]

The Charges Remain Pending. Chavez Gasca has pleaded not guilty, and no conviction or other final disposition has occurred. His next scheduled court date is September 22, with a jury trial currently set for November 9. [NonStop Local]