Judge Grants Court Continuance In Sexual Assault Case 

By Andrew Gorosko

WATERBURY — A Middlebury woman, who police allege had an illegal yearlong sexual relationship with an underage male Newtown High School student while the woman formerly worked as a NHS guidance office intern, appeared briefly March 13 in Waterbury Superior Court, where a judge continued her criminal case until May 8.

The March 13 court appearance was the first time that Jillian Gehrkens, 28, of 807 Long Meadow Road, Middlebury, had appeared in court since November 28.

Ms Gehrkens faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of risk of injury or impairing the morals of a minor, and one count of violation of the conditions of release. She has pleaded “not guilty” to all four charges.

A conviction on a second-degree sexual assault charge carries a mandatory minimum nine-month jail sentence.

Ms Gehrkens is free on $25,000 bail and is under limited house arrest, having been confined to her home by a judge for allegedly having had contact with the victim in the case after she had been ordered not to do so.

Judge Frank Iannotti is presiding in the case. Attorney William F. Dow, III, of New Haven represents Ms Gehrkens.

At her March 13 court appearance, Ms Gehrkens wore maternity clothes. Mr Dow had informed the judge that Ms Gehrkens’ delivery due date is April 19.

The mother of the victim was present at Ms Gehrkens’ pretrial appearance in Courtroom 1-A, but she opted not to speak to the court.

Judge Iannotti, Mr Dow, and the state prosecutor discussed when Ms Gehrkens’ next court appearance should be scheduled — either before or after she is scheduled to give birth. They eventually decided that the next court appearance should occur after her expected delivery date.

Mr Dow apparently has submitted a legal motion to the court that seeks to relax the various conditions of Ms Gehrkens’ release.

After court, Mr Dow said that at a future court appearance, after Ms Gehrkens’ baby is born, he may argue a motion seeking to relax the conditions of her release.

Mr Dow said that Ms Gehrkens has secured part-time employment, but declined to describe the nature of that work.

Asked to comment on where Ms Gehrkens’ case is headed in court, Mr Dow said he does not know.

The current conditions of her release require Ms Gehrkens to wear an electronic monitoring device that restricts her presence to her home and her backyard. She is allowed to leave home for court appearances, medical appointments, meetings with her lawyer, and for employment reasons.

Last August, Middlebury police arrested Ms Gehrkens because the alleged illegal sexual activity between her and the victim occurred at her Middlebury residence. Newtown police had provided investigatory evidence to Middlebury police for their case. 

An arrest warrant affidavit describes the circumstances that led Middlebury police on August 29 to arrest Ms Gehrkens on sexual assault charges for allegedly having had a yearlong sexual relationship with a male NHS student who was age 15 when the relationship started. The youth is now 17. Police have not disclosed the youth’s identity.

Ms Gehrkens, who is married, had worked as a NHS guidance office intern from January 2004 to January 2005. While an NHS intern, she was affiliated with Western Connecticut State University in Danbury as a graduate student.

In mid- September, after learning that Ms Gehrkens had allegedly had contact with the victim in early September, after she had been ordered not to do so at her August 30 court arraignment, Judge Iannotti required Ms Gehrkens to submit to electronic monitoring and to limited house arrest. In October, at Mr Dow’s request, Judge Iannotti relaxed the conditions of that house arrest, allowing Ms Gehrkens to venture into her backyard.