The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a former teacher and Jehovah’s Witness elder charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy from his congregation. Jason Morris Gorski, 43, Fort Mill, South Carolina, was charged on Aug. 3, 2016, with four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 with a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, Gorski faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a former teacher and Jehovah’s Witness elder charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy from his congregation. Jason Morris Gorski, 43, Fort Mill, South Carolina, was charged on Aug. 3, 2016, with four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 with a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, Gorski faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. The defendant was in court recently and is out of custody on $100,000 bail. Gorski is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Oct. 21, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-7, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Prior to the crimes, Gorski was employed as a school teacher at the now closed Southwestern Longview Private School in Long Beach for approximately four years, ending in April 2007. John Doe was a student in one of the defendant’s classes.
At the time of the crimes, Gorski was an active member of a Jehovah’s Witness congregation in Cypress. The defendant is accused of violating his position of leadership and trust as an appointed elder beginning in June 2007.
Between June 12, 2007, and June 11, 2008, Gorski is accused of sexually assaulting 13-year-old John Doe at various locations in Buena Park.
In 2009, John Doe reported the abuse to their congregation. Gorski was removed from his position as an elder, but remained an active member of the congregation. In 2010, Gorski moved to South Carolina and began attending a Jehovah’s Witness congregation in nearby Charlotte, North Carolina.
John Doe recently reported the sexual abuse to authorities, and on June 21, 2016, Gorski was arrested by the Buena Park Police Department.
The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Karyn Stokke of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.