Wallingford Man Pleads Guilty To Child Exploitation Charge: Feds

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford man has pleaded guilty to a child exploitation charge, according to officials.

Jason Goriss, 49, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Wednesday in Hartford federal court to one count of possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November and December 2018, Goriss was found to be in the possession of four images and five videos “depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct,” according to officials.

“The images and videos included depictions of prepubescent children, and at least one image of bondage,” officials wrote in a news release. “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, and also has other charges for sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor pending in Connecticut Superior Court, according to officials.

Sentencing has been scheduled for May 17, at which time Goriss faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison 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,” officials wrote.

The 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, visit here.

To report cases of child exploitation, visit here.