Oak Forest Mom Finds Man Having Sex on Porch with 14-Year-Old Girl: Prosecutor

OAK FOREST, IL -- A Romeoville man is accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old Oak Forest girl on a porch over the summer, prosecutors said Thursday in court.

Jay Gorel, 20, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was arrested on Oct. 18.

The prosecutor said the girl and her mother moved over the summer to a friend’s house in the 15200 block of South Central Avenue, Oak Forest. The prosecutor said that Gorel was also living in the household.

Sometime between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, the mother woke up at night and saw that her daughter was not sleeping in her usual place. When the mother went to look for her daughter, she found Gorel laying shirtless on the back porch. Her daughter was sitting next to him without pants, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor explained that charges were delayed because the girl was hospitalized during the month of September. At some point in time, the girl threatened to commit suicide. The girl also submitted to an interview with a professional therapist.

Gorel was taken into custody on Oct. 18, where the prosecutor said he gave a video-taped statement to police admitting to have intercourse to the girl and knowing that she was only 14 years old.

The prosecutor could not answer the judge’s questions whether the girl had suicidal idealizations after the alleged sexual relations.

“That’s troubling to me,” Judge Felice said.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Gorel, a Stagg High School graduate, lived in Romeoville with his fiance. Gorel was also a one-time foster child and his former foster mother is now his guardian. Gorel’s family was in court to support him.

“He does have caring people invested in his well being,” the assistant public defender said.

Judge Felice set bail at $250,000, but said he would review the bail amount at a future date when he had more information.

The judge also ordered Gorel to not have any contact with the girl. Gorel’s next court hearing is Nov. 16 in Bridgeview.

Photo: Jay Gorel, 20 | Cook County Sheriff