Wallingford Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charge

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston, today announced that JASON GORISS, 49, last residing in Wallingford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November and December 2018, Goriss four images and five videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and videos included depictions of prepubescent children, and at least one image of bondage.  Goriss shared some of the images and videos on an internet-based blog.

Goriss previously was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of risk of injury to a minor.

Goriss is currently incarcerated in state custody for a violation of probation, he has other charges for sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor pending in Connecticut Superior Court. 

Judge Thompson scheduled sentencing for May 17, at which time Goriss faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Goriss’s prior conviction for risk of injury to a minor.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Wallingford Police Department, with the assistance of the Office of Adult Probation.  The case is being prosecuted by Nancy V. Gifford and Neeraj N. Patel, with cooperation from the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.