Child-Molesting Psychologist Sentenced To 40 Years

MARIETTA, GA -- A former child psychologist has pleaded guilty to not only molesting a young girl, but taking and sharing pornographic images of her and other children on the internet. On Friday, Jonathan Benjamin Gersh, 38, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty to six counts of child molestation and four counts of sexual exploitation of children. All of the acts alleged in the indictment occurred at the child’s Marietta home in 2017, though the victim’s family told the court the crimes continued from the time she was in kindergarten through her third-grade year of school.

Authorities in Australia originally notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of the images and the IP address through which the images were uploaded. Federal agents and Cobb police traced that back to Gersh, who at the time was a licensed psychologist treating children and adults in metro Atlanta. A search warrant executed on Gersh’s cell phone uncovered additional images of “child erotica,” described as pictures taken of children who were wearing bathing suits in public places, such as at water parks. Investigators found Gersh had offered to trade the images with others across the globe via the internet, and that he persuaded others to destroy electronic equipment he had used.

Gersh was dating the child’s mother, who is also a psychologist. The mother told the court that Gersh manipulated her into a relationship to gain access to her daughter, who “had to endure being used by him for his sexual gratification.” The mother urged the court to impose a severe prison sentence, calling Gersh a “selfish, perverted, manipulative sociopath” who doesn’t have the ability to be reformed.

The child’s father also addressed the court with a written statement that asked how much a little girl is worth. “These children’s protection is priceless,” he wrote. “Everything is what my daughter is worth.”

Gersh was sentenced to 40 years, with 20 years to serve in prison and the balance on probation. He will be subject to sex offender conditions upon his release. Gersh’s attorney, Richard Grossman of Atlanta, told the court that, “Aside from this conduct, he’s led an exemplary life.”

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