California Child Counselor Charged with Molestation

(Sacramento, California) A 24-year-old counselor at the Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento, Theresa Gooch, has been accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl.

Gooch faces counts of molesting a minor, oral sex with a minor and attempted oral sex with a minor.

The case broke open when a mandatory reporter at the receiving home — a worker required by law to report known abuses — obtained "irrefutable digital evidence of the conduct," said Stewart Katz, attorney for the 16-year-old victim. That included photos, text messages and emails.

The nonprofit Children's Receiving Home is licensed to serve 98 youths. On Friday, the facility had 63 children in its care, according to DSS.

"It's a temporary place for kids to live while they are awaiting another placement," said Carroll Schroeder, the executive director of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, noting that the average stay at receiving homes is between a week and a month.

Gooch was booked into custody with bail set at $250,000.