Former Arlington Substitute Teacher Gets 5 Years For Indecent Liberties

ARLINGTON, VA — A former substitute teacher at Washington-Liberty High School was sentenced Friday to five years in prison after being convicted of indecent liberties with a minor involving a student he taught and later tutored privately, according to the Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.

Timothy McGhee was sentenced Friday in Arlington County Circuit Court to five years of incarceration followed by three years of supervised probation. He was convicted of indecent liberties with a minor by a custodian or supervisor following a three-day jury trial in August.

McGhee was working as a long-term substitute teacher at Washington-Liberty High School in 2022 when he began an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student, according to prosecutors. He later became the student's private math tutor, and the relationship continued for approximately two years, involving frequent contact both inside and outside school.

Former Teacher Must Register As Sex Offender

An Arlington County jury found McGhee guilty Aug. 5 after hearing evidence about his relationship with the student. An earlier trial in 2025 ended in a mistrial when jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

In addition to his prison sentence, McGhee must register as a sex offender, complete sex offender treatment and submit to electronic monitoring throughout his supervised probation, according to prosecutors.

The court also ordered McGhee to have no contact with minors and avoid places where children are present.

"The trust placed in teachers and school employees is profound," Arlington County Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti said in a statement. "When an adult entrusted with the care and education of a young person exploits that position of authority, it causes lasting harm and undermines the safety students deserve."

Dehghani-Tafti also thanked the victim for her courage throughout the investigation and prosecution, along with the Arlington County Police Department and prosecutors who handled the case.

The conviction followed an extensive investigation by Arlington County police into allegations involving McGhee and the student, according to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.