Kings Bay officer accused of child molestation

Posted 7:20AM on Wednesday 27th February 2002 ( 23 years ago )

KINGSLAND - An officer at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base was charged with 13 counts of child molestation, including one while he was stationed at a naval submarine base in Washington. Elloy Torrez Gutierrez, a Petty Officer 1st class, was arrested Friday on 12 counts of child molestation and one count of sodomy. Naval investigators told The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union that 12 of the alleged sexual assaults occurred at Gutierrez's home in Kingsland. The victims, both male and female, were between 7 and 15 years old, naval investigators said. The other alleged incident, NCIS agents said, occurred at Bangor Naval Submarine Base in Kitsap County, Washington, where he was stationed before being assigned to Kings Bay in 1997. Gutierrez, 35, volunteered as a Scout leader, elementary school tutor or basketball coach to meet children whom he would invite home and molest. Florida police said Gutierrez came to their attention after a parent reported suspicious activity to authorities. Sheriff's deputies and NCIS investigators later questioned Gutierrez at his home, where police found child pornography, along with games and toys that would appeal to children, Richard T. Gamble, supervisory special agent with the Kings Bay NCIS office, told the Times-Union. ``I don't think he bothered anyone in the neighborhood,'' neighbor Jennifer Borkowski said. ``He seemed really nice, really friendly, always happy.'' Gutierrez, who lived alone, even played hockey on the street with her son and other children several times, Borkowski said. ``It seems like he went out of his way to do expensive things for kids,'' she said. The principal of Sugarmill Elementary School, where Gutierrez was recently honored for volunteering as a tutor more than three years, said he got ``a lot fewer calls than I anticipated'' by upset parents. ``He gained not only the students' trust but the parents' trust and the school's trust,'' said school Principal Arthur Van Horn. Bail for Gutierrez has been denied, the Camden County Sheriff's Office said. He is being held at Camden County Jail. Navy officials said Gutierrez, originally from Washington state, enlisted in October 1986. William Terrell, a spokesman with Camden County Sheriff's Office, said Gutierrez had no prior criminal record.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/2/198206