James Stewart Carroll, the British-born director of the elite National Child Research Center (NCRC) in Washington, D.C., was arrested Tuesday morning on charges of soliciting graphic sexual abuse material involving a 9-year-old boy. The alleged request was made to someone Carroll believed to be the boy’s father but was actually an undercover FBI agent.
Carroll, 55, now faces one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, as outlined in a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday in federal court.
Disturbing allegations unveiled
The complaint alleges that Carroll engaged in deeply troubling online conversations, including discussions about “child sexual exploitation, circumcision of teenage boys, [and] urinating on teenage boys and adults.” Patricia Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, confirmed Carroll’s arrest, stating that he made his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Prestigious institution under scrutiny
NCRC, one of Washington’s oldest preschools, charges just under $42,000 in annual tuition. According to the school’s website, which was still active Tuesday afternoon, NCRC offers a “play-based program” aimed at fostering “inquiry and discovery” in a “nurturing, positive, joyful learning environment.” School officials have not commented on the situation, and Carroll could not be reached for a statement. Court records do not yet list an attorney for him.
Tip-off and investigation
He first came to the FBI’s attention in mid-September, when an employee of the instant messaging app Discord reported an account that had uploaded a photo of “two naked prepubescent boys lying on a piece of furniture.”
The tip, forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, revealed that the account was linked to a username, “CircumcisedLondonGay#0,” based in the D.C. area. Federal authorities traced the IP address to Carroll’s residence and identified another connection to the Beauvoir School, where Carroll had previously worked. A second IP address linked the Discord activity to NCRC, Carroll’s current workplace. Authorities identified additional accounts allegedly operated by Carroll through their investigation.
Undercover operation reveals graphic requests
On November 5, an FBI agent using a fictitious online persona contacted Carroll through Discord. Carroll allegedly expressed a specific interest in “boys only” between the ages of 8 and 12. The agent pretended to be a divorced father who regularly abused his fictional 9-year-old son, according to the complaint. Carroll allegedly encouraged the fictitious father to continue the abuse and even described wanting to witness “relentless” acts with “no mercy.” He allegedly commented, “If he’s crying, I get more turned on.”
Encrypted chats and precautions
As the conversations shifted to Telegram’s encrypted messaging app, Carroll periodically deleted his messages, telling the undercover agent it was “smart to do.” When reassured by the agent about confidentiality, Carroll reportedly replied, “Of course!!!”
Surveillance and arrest
On November 12, FBI agents surveilled Carroll’s workplace, spotting his car at NCRC. Two days later, the undercover agent discussed a fictitious abuse video with Carroll, who allegedly outlined specific acts he wanted to see. On November 19, Carroll was arrested by U.S. Marshals. If convicted, Carroll faces up to 10 years in prison. The arrest of such a prominent figure has sent shock waves through Washington’s educational community, raising serious concerns about vetting processes and child safety measures at prestigious institutions. Federal authorities are continuing their investigation into the case.
