Director of Northwest D.C. Preschool Faces Federal Child Abuse Charges

The director of a well-regarded preschool in Northwest Washington, D.C., James Carroll, has been charged with federal offenses relating to child abuse, as reported by the U.S. Attorney for D.C. Carroll, aged 55, faces charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

Carroll serves as the head of the National Child Research Center, located in the Cleveland Park area. The institution caters to children aged between 2 and 5. In a statement, prosecutors alleged that Carroll engaged in conversations about explicit child content on the communication app, Discord.

Court documents revealed disturbing details, indicating that Carroll, through his Discord account, uploaded illicit material on September 11. Additionally, between November 5 and November 14, he allegedly communicated with an undercover federal agent posing as the parent of a young child and suggested abusive behavior towards the child over the period.

Authorities identified Carroll as the perpetrator based on internet protocol addresses linked to both his residence and workplace. This was substantiated by information gathered from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline, which received the initial report from a Discord employee.

An FBI agent successfully traced Carroll through various internet access points, one of which was located at the premises of the National Child Research Center. Further investigation identified Carroll through a cellphone number associated with the Discord account. Since 2018, Carroll has held the position of head of school at the center.

Following his arrest on Tuesday, Carroll was detained pending further legal proceedings, with his next court appearance scheduled for Monday, November 25. The ongoing investigation is spearheaded by the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes both FBI agents and Metropolitan Police Department members.

In response to the situation, Carroll has been placed on administrative leave, with the National Child Research Center barring him from their campus. Megan Ortiz, Chair of the Board, expressed shock and dismay over the allegations. She emphasized the school’s commitment to providing a safe environment for children, describing the alleged activities as a severe breach of trust.

Court documents have linked Carroll to another educational institution—Beauvoir School, which is affiliated with Washington National Cathedral. The school opted not to comment on the situation regarding former employees, according to an attorney associated with the school.

The National Child Research Center, known for being D.C.’s oldest continuously operating preschool, demands tuition fees as high as $42,000 annually. Carroll’s arrest has led to the removal of his biography from the school’s official website.