Who Is Trinidad Chavez Gasca? Pasco Teacher Arrest

Trinidad Chavez Gasca is a 32-year-old Washington teacher who was arrested in August 2026 and charged with four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor involving a former Pasco High School student. Court documents allege Chavez Gasca engaged in sexual conduct with the student while she was 18 and still enrolled at the school. Washington law prohibits certain sexual relationships between school employees and students under age 21. Chavez Gasca has been placed on paid administrative leave by the Pasco School District. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

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 on August 24. Jail 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]

Chavez Gasca Was Held On $250,000 Bail. A judge set bail at $250,000 after reviewing the allegations contained in the probable-cause statement. A no-contact order was also put in place covering the alleged victim. [Tri-City Herald] [NonStop Local]

His Arraignment Was Scheduled For August 28, 2026. Court records cited by local news outlets listed an August 28 arraignment in Franklin County Superior Court. [NonStop Local]

Allegations Involving A Pasco High School Student

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

The Student Alleged That Chavez Gasca Gave Her Sexually Explicit Notes. Court documents allege that Chavez Gasca exchanged sexually explicit written messages with the student and discussed sexual topics with her while she was enrolled at Pasco High School. [Tri-City Herald]

The Student Alleged Chavez Gasca Asked To See Explicit Photographs Of Her. According to court documents, the student said she showed Chavez Gasca nude photographs on her phone and that he subsequently asked to see new photographs on a recurring basis. These claims are allegations contained in court records and have not been proven at trial. [Tri-City Herald]

Investigators Allege The Conduct Escalated Inside Chavez Gasca’s Classroom. The probable-cause allegations include claims that Chavez Gasca locked his classroom door, touched the student sexually and engaged in sexual activity with her. Some of the alleged conduct reportedly occurred while other students were nearby. [Tri-City Herald]

Court Documents Allege Chavez Gasca And The Student Had Sex Twice. Investigators allege that the relationship eventually included intercourse on two occasions. The criminal charges remain pending, and Chavez Gasca has not been convicted of the allegations. [Tri-City Herald]

The Student Was 18

The Alleged Victim Was 18 During The Charged Conduct. Although the student was legally an adult, Washington’s sexual-misconduct-with-a-minor law applies to certain sexual conduct between school employees and enrolled students who are younger than 21. [NonStop Local]

Investigators Say Chavez Gasca Had Known The Student Since She Entered Pasco High School. Court documents say Chavez Gasca and the student first crossed paths in September 2021, when she was a new student at the school and began visiting his classroom outside regular class time. [Tri-City Herald]

Court Records Describe Earlier Conversations About The Student’s Sexual Activity. Investigators allege that Chavez Gasca at one point asked the student whether she had used a condom during a sexual encounter with another person. The allegation was included as part of the history investigators said preceded the later conduct. [Tri-City Herald]

Student Later Described The Relationship As Grooming

The Student Initially Viewed The Alleged Relationship Differently. According to the probable-cause account, the student initially regarded what happened between herself and Chavez Gasca as a romantic relationship rather than criminal misconduct. [Tri-City Herald]

Investigators Say Her View Changed In May 2026. Court documents state that the student later concluded that what she had viewed as a relationship was instead grooming. She subsequently disclosed more details to her counselor, leading to the police investigation. [Tri-City Herald]

Trinidad Chavez Gasca Teaching Career

Chavez Gasca Worked As A Math Teacher At Pasco High School. Police said Chavez Gasca was teaching 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. At the time his arrest became public, Chavez Gasca was listed as a mathematics teacher at Sageview High School, another Pasco School District campus. [NonStop Local]

Chavez Gasca Had Worked For Pasco Schools For Several Years. Public payroll records list Chavez Gasca as a Pasco teacher dating back to at least 2018. [OpenPayrolls]

Chavez Gasca Earned A Washington Teaching Certificate Through Washington State University. A Washington State University commencement program lists Trinidad Chavez Gasca among candidates for a residency teaching certificate. [Washington State University]

Pasco School District Response

The School District Placed Chavez Gasca On Administrative Leave In May. Pasco School District said police notified administrators on May 22, 2026 that Chavez Gasca was under investigation. The district said he was immediately placed on administrative leave under its standard procedures. [NonStop Local]

Chavez Gasca Remained On Paid Administrative Leave After His Arrest. Local reporting said he continued to be on paid leave while the criminal case was pending. [Tri-City Herald]

The District Called The Allegations A Potential Serious Breach Of Trust. In a statement after the arrest, Pasco School District said that, if true, the accusations would represent a serious breach of trust and a departure from the standards expected of district employees. The district said student safety and well-being remained its highest priority. [NonStop Local]

Trinidad Chavez Gasca Criminal Charges

Chavez Gasca Faces Three Counts Of First-Degree Sexual Misconduct With A Minor. Franklin County court records list three first-degree counts arising from the alleged relationship with the student. [NonStop Local]

He Also Faces One Count Of Second-Degree Sexual Misconduct With A Minor. That brings the total number of charges reported in the case to four. [NonStop Local]

The Case Remains Pending. As of August 27, 2026, Chavez Gasca has been arrested and charged, but the allegations have not resulted in a conviction. His arraignment was scheduled for August 28 in Franklin County Superior Court. [NonStop Local]