Former Art Instructor Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing Students

GAITHERSBURG, MD — A former Gaithersburg art instructor pleaded guilty Friday in Montgomery County Circuit Court to sexually abusing multiple underage students.

Gene Alphonse Brugada Pasay, 30, who taught classes at Renaissance Art Center, was arrested on July 15. The Silver Spring resident is accused of making sexual gestures and showing inappropriate videos and photos to two of his male students between September 2018 and March 2019. The children were 10 and 11 at the time, according to Montgomery County police.

In court on Friday, Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth Haynos accused Pasay of abusing a third child, but did not disclose that child's gender, according to Bethesda Beat.

He pleaded guilty to one count of abuse, court records reveal.

Under Maryland law, a person found guilty of sexually abusing a minor can spend up to 25 years in prison.

Sentencing for Pasay is scheduled for Jan. 31 at 1:30 p.m.