Oral sex on In the past, the foster children were made to perform Joseph Gorham). the foster mother’s father (name unknown, was of harm. This ongoing contact places the children at risk
CITY SOCIAL workers “ignored” evidence two twins endured forced oral sex in the same Brooklyn foster family where a preteen girl and her sisters also suffered years of sex abuse, new court papers claim.
The new court filings contain detailed allegations that Administration for Children’s Services investigators closed their inquiry into alleged sexual abuse by Joseph Gorham without even interviewing him.
In November 2008, ACS investigators pursued a report of suspected maltreatment in foster mom Jovonne Gorham’s home.
The narrative in the newly revealed report stated: “On a regular basis Jovonne (foster mother) allows her foster children . . . (twins) M and J to have contact with her father (Joseph Gorham).”
The report continued: “In the past, the foster children were made to perform oral sex on the foster mother’s father. This ongoing contact places the children at risk of harm.”
When it came to providing investigators Joseph Gorham’s contact info, Jovonne “evaded” their requests, claiming “she did not know where her father lived,” the report said.
A supervisor ultimately reviewed the “incomplete” findings and decided the allegations were unfounded — despite the fact ACS never interviewed Joseph Gorham, the suit says.
Around the same time, St. Vincent’s Services, now known as HeartShare, placed now-19-year-old “CB” and her two sisters in Jovonne Gorham’s care. Their younger brother joined them shortly thereafter at Gorham’s Hancock St. apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Gorham then sent the girls to live with her dad in his Red Hook Houses apartment — which was not the home approved by St. Vincent’s, an ongoing Manhattan Federal Court lawsuit charges.
The girls had to sleep on air mattresses next to him, and the then-59-year-old forced them time and time again to have sexual relations with him, according to the $21 million suit.
Gorham was hit last Nov. 9 with sex abuse charges, including sex conduct against a child under the age of 13, stemming from the girls’ allegations.
Gorham maintains he is innocent, his lawyer in the criminal case said.
The original civil complaint, filed in March by lawyer Bruce Young, accused St. Vincent’s/HeartShare and ACS of ignoring signs of abuse.
ACS said it can’t comment on ongoing litigation, but it is “reviewing the amended complaint.”
HeartShare did not respond to requests for comment.