Cheatham: 26 Years Undetected — Fairfax County (1994–2021)
In 1994–1995, FCPS teacher Marc Damon Cheatham sexually assaulted a student at Barden Elementary School. His crimes included forcible sodomy of a victim under 12, aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 13, and producing obscene materials involving a minor. Despite these crimes, Cheatham continued teaching at eight different FCPS schools for 26 more years — transferring to Holmes Middle School in 2017 — before he was finally arrested in January 2021.
Key Facts
Timeline of Events
Every date and fact below is cited to its source. Click the bracketed links to verify.
Teacher sexually assaults student at Barden Elementary
Marc Damon Cheatham sexually assaulted a student at Barden Elementary School. The crimes included forcible sodomy of a victim under 12, aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 13, and producing obscene materials involving a minor.
Cheatham transfers to Holmes Middle School
Cheatham transferred to Holmes Middle School, continuing to work with students. He had now been employed by FCPS for over 22 years since the assaults.
Cheatham finally arrested — 26 years after the crimes
Cheatham, now 51, was finally arrested. He was charged with two counts of forcible sodomy (victim under 12), aggravated sexual assault (victim under 13), and producing obscene materials involving a minor. He was held without bond.
Cheatham convicted in Fairfax Circuit Court
Cheatham was convicted of forcible sodomy and felony possession of obscene material involving a minor. He is now a registered sex offender in Virginia.
What Went Wrong
26 Years Undetected
A teacher who committed forcible sodomy against a child continued teaching for nearly three decades.
Multiple Schools, Same System
Cheatham worked at multiple FCPS schools over 26 years, with access to children the entire time.
Systemic Vetting Failure
Whatever screening or oversight processes FCPS had in place failed to detect or prevent a child predator from having decades of access.
All Sources
Every fact on this page is sourced from the following reporting. We encourage you to read the original articles and verify every claim.
- WJLA (ABC 7): “Police: Fairfax County Teacher Sexually Assaulted Student More Than 20 Years Ago”
- FOX 5: “Fairfax County Teacher Arrested for Sexually Assaulting a Student 20 Years Ago”
- InsideNoVA: “Fairfax County Teacher Arrested for Sexual Assaults of Student in 1994-95”
- Virginia State Police: Virginia Sex Offender Registry
He assaulted a child in 1994. FCPS employed him for 26 more years.
A teacher who committed forcible sodomy against a child under 12 continued working in FCPS schools for nearly three decades. The system failed to detect a predator with decades of access to children.
Related Incidents
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Israel Christopher Flores-Ortiz, an 18-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was enrolled as a junior and serially groped approximately 12 female students over months. Charged with misdemeanors. County refused ICE detainer.
Rachel Carson Middle School Gang Rape Cover-Up
A 12-year-old girl alleged she was gang raped over five months. Staff told her to 'be a big girl.' Five staffers involved still worked at FCPS a decade later. Federal OCR reprimanded the superintendent.
Oakton HS Band Trip: Officials Joked, Evidence Lost, FCPS Settled for $587,500
A 16-year-old was sexually assaulted on a five-day band trip. A School Resource Officer joked about it. Witness statements were lost. FCPS quietly settled for $587,500.