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OGDEN — A licensed family therapist who works with children on the autism spectrum was charged Monday with six counts of sexual abuse of a child.
Brian Patrick Gomez, 39, is accused of inappropriately touching two girls ages 12 and 11 while they were staying in a rented condo with him following a New Year’s Eve party.
Gomez is a certified clinical social worker and therapist who works with children, specializing in autism spectrum and “defiant children,” according to his website. He owns Utah Clinical Services, LLC, in Ogden.
According to an affidavit, Gomez is a family friend of the parents of the 12-year-old girl and her 9-year-old sister. The 11-year-old lives with the girls and their parents. The family had attended a New Year's celebration at Gomez's rented condo at Zermatt Resort.
Around 2 a.m., the three girls were left to sleep over at the condo after the party. While the girls were lying on the floor and a sofa bed, the affidavit said, Gomez touched them and forced the 11-year-old to touch him.
At 2:33 a.m., the 11-year-old sent a text message to her caregiver, saying she thought Gomez was a pedophile and wanted to talk, the document said. Her caregiver did not view the text until about 8:45 a.m. He immediately went to the condo and retrieved the girls.
Without knowing of the other girl’s disclosure, the 12-year-old told her mother that Gomez had touched her inappropriately, the affidavit said. They notified law enforcement immediately.
Charges were filed against Gomez on Monday. Sexual abuse of a child is a first-degree felony.
