Elder who taught at private school for JWs accused of abuse

[Jack Ryan]

Note: Southwestern Longview was a private school that catered to witness children

BUENA PARK – A South Carolina man who worked as a teacher at a private school in Long Beach a decade ago has been arrested by Buena Park police officers on suspicion of the “continuous sexual abuse of a child” who was a student of his, authorities said today.

Jason Gorski of Fort Mill, 43, was arrested on June 21, said Buena Park police Sgt. Mike Lovchik. The victim was a boy who was 12-15 years of age at the time of the alleged sexual abuse.

“Gorski worked as the male victim’s school teacher and as an elder within their Jehovah’s Witness church congregation,” Lovchik said.

“The sexual abuse occurred from 2007 to 2009 while the victim was ages 12-15,” Lovchik said. “The abuse came to an end when it was reported to the Jehovah’s Witness church, but it was only recently reported to authorities. Gorski moved to South Carolina shortly after the disclosure.”

Lovchik said his department was conducting the investigation because crimes allegedly committed by Gorski occurred in Buena Park.

According to Lovchik, Gorski worked as a teacher at Southwestern Longview Private School, at 4747 Daisy Ave. in Long Beach, for about three or four years, ending when the school closed for business at the end of the school year in 2007.

Gorski attended the Jehova’s Witness Cypress congregation at 8542 Watson St. in Cypress for several years, and was appointed as an elder of the congregation in May 2007, Lovchik said.

“After the disclosure (of the sexual abuse) in 2009, Gorski was removed as an elder, but continued to attend services at the congregation,” Lovchik said.

Around 2010, Gorski moved to South Carolina, and became part of a nearby Jehovah’s Witness congregation in North Carolina, Lovchik said.

“Over the years many children have been exposed to Gorski, specifically during his time as a schoolteacher and church leader,” Lovchik said.”It is believed that additional victims may exist who have not yet reported their abuse to authorities.”

Additional victims, or people with knowledge of Gorski’s alleged abuse, were urged to call the Buena Park Police Department at 714-562-3963.

http://www.presstelegram.com/article/LB/20160630/NEWS/160639983

And another story:

Former Long Beach school teacher arrested after sexual abuse allegations

A former Long Beach school teacher was arrested last week after authorities received a report about sexual abuse alleged to have occurred from 2007 to 2009, police announced Thursday.

Jason Gorski, 43, surrendered to Buena Park police on June 21 and was booked on suspicion of sex crimes with a child under 14 and continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to Sgt. Mike Lovchik. Gorski worked as the boy’s school teacher and as an elder within their Jehovah’s Witness church congregation in Cypress, police said.

"We have no evidence at this point that any crimes occurred in the church or at the school," Lovchik said.

Police were contacted by a man who said he was abused from 2007 to 2009, from the ages of 12 to 15, authorities said. It came to an end when it was reported to the church, but it was only recently reported to authorities, police said.

The crimes reportedly occurred in Buena Park, Lovchik said. Gorski remains free on $100,000 bail, he said.

A man who answered the phone at the Cypress congregation and who refused to identify himself said Gorski was no longer part of the congregation and declined to comment further.

“I’m not allowed to give out any information regarding him,” he said.

Gorski worked as a school teacher at Southwestern Longview Private School for approximately three to four years and his employment ended in April 2007. The school permanently closed at the end of the school year in June 2007, police said.

Gorski attended the Cypress congregation for several years and was appointed as an elder of the congregation in May 2007. After the disclosure to the church in 2009, police said, Gorski was removed as an elder but continued to attend services.

Sometime around 2010, Gorski relocated to South Carolina and became a part of a nearby Jehovah’s Witness congregation, police said. It is unclear whether police arrested Gorski in South Carolina.

“Over the years, many children have been exposed to Gorski, specifically during his time as a school teacher and church leader,” police said. “It is believed that additional victims may exist who have not yet reported their abuse to authorities.”

People with knowledge of any abuse by Gorski are asked to contact Buena Park police at 714-562-3963.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-buena-park-arrest-20160630-snap-story.html

Update on July 6, 2016: http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/crime/article88025877.html

 

[Jack Ryan]

Wasn't dfd just removed as an elder and of course the crime not reported to police