Wallingford Man Sentenced On Child Exploitation Charge: Feds

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for possessing images and videos of child sex abuse, according to officials.

Jason Goriss, 49, was also sentenced Wednesday to 10 years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November and December 2018, Goriss “possessed 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 pleaded guilty in February to possession of child pornography.

Goriss previously was convicted in state court of having illegal sexual contact with a minor, and was sentenced to eight years of incarceration, with three years to serve, and 15 years of probation for that offense, according to officials. He has been incarcerated in state custody since March 9, 2021, for violating his probation, and also has other charges for sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor pending in state court, officials said.

“The federal penalties were enhanced based on Goriss’s prior conviction,” 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.