BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – Update:
On Tuesday, in a Bedford County courtroom, John Rose IV pleaded guilty to all 8 felony charges of sexually abusing a student in another district from the time she was 14 until she turned 15.
Bedford prosecutors say Rose first met the teen while working as a teacher at Elkton Middle School in Rockingham County. He was also employed by Bedford County Public Schools, but was immediately suspended when the allegations came to light.
According to investigators, Rose brought the student to Bedford County on three separate occasions. The first was in August 2023, when the student was 14, at an Airbnb where Rose was staying. The second came in September 2023, after the student turned 15, at his new home in Huddleston. The third took place during the December 2023 to January 2024 Christmas break, also at the Huddleston residence.
The victim testified that she and Rose engaged in multiple sex acts during those visits. Prosecutors say evidence from Rose’s home and data pulled from his cellphone corroborates her testimony.
The charges reflect the student’s age at the time of the abuse. When she was 14, Rose was charged with carnal knowledge of a child, also known as statutory rape. When she was 15, he was charged with indecent liberties while in a custodial relationship, meaning he was in a position of trust or authority as her teacher.
According to prosecutors, Rose now faces a statutory maximum of 50 years in prison. While sentencing guidelines in similar cases suggest 3 to 6 years, prosecutors told 10 News they plan to push for more time.
“Because of the length of his crimes against this young lady, the aggravated nature of her being brought to Bedford County on three separate occasions, gives us a good faith argument to argue that the judge should go above those guideline recommendations,” said Wes Nance, Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
Nance also told 10 News that Rose’s guilty plea without any agreement on sentencing underscores the strength of the investigation.
Rose’s sentencing in Bedford County is scheduled for next year, on January 30th. Rose was first arrested in March 2024 in Rockingham County, where he still faces pending trials for similar charges.
Original:
A former Bedford County Public Schools teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student in another district has pleaded guilty to all charges.
As previously reported, John Rose was charged in August 2024 with four counts of indecent liberties with a child. A Bedford County Schools spokesperson told 10 News that Rose taught seventh-grade history at Staunton River Middle School before being placed on administrative leave. He also previously taught in Rockingham County, Virginia.
Rose’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.