A Volusia County-based youth counselor was arrested on a molestation charge Monday night after a 12-year-old boy accused the man of molesting him multiple times during the year, deputies said in a news release.

  • Nathan Gorzelanczyk, 31, charged with 1 count of molestation
  • Volusia County deputies: Gorzelanczyk is a youth counselor
  • Deputies: Gorzelanczyk has a history of working with youths

Nathan Gorzelanczyk, 31, was charged with one count of lewd and lascivious molestation and was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.

Gorzelanczyk has a history of mentoring children, and Volusia County investigators said there could be additional victims.

The investigation began a week ago after the boy disclosed to his therapist that Gorzelanczyk had molested him. The investigation disclosed that Gorzelanczyk had been mentoring the boy for some time, taking him to church activities and to play tennis. Gorzelanczyk also bought the boy gifts, deputies said.

While visiting Gorzelanczyk at his house, the boy said he was molested on several occasions, deputies said. He also said Gorzelanczyk had shown him pornography on his phone and computer, with most of the images involving young boys, a news release states.

Volusia County Sheriff's Office investigators said Gorzelanczyk has been mentoring youth, both at The Journey Church in Orange City as a counselor and at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. Gorzelanczyk said he had recently been fired from his job at the Methodist Children's Home, but he didn't disclose the reason for his termination, deputies said.

Witnesses told deputies that Gorzelanczyk often mentored neighborhood boys, bringing them into his home and offering to give them piano lessons or play video games with them.

Investigators seized property from Gorzelanczyk's home on Monday night while serving a search warrant to determine if he's in possession of child pornography.

The suspect’s mother, who shares a home with her son, says the accusations can’t be true.

“My son has never been alone with him at all,” said Cynthia Helton.

“I’ve always been in his house, with doors open, when they were playing on the computer.”

Helton says there’s no doubt in her mind her son is innocent.

“No doubt because my son, if you see him around kids, he won’t even hug them back, he’ll hold his hands up when they’re hugging him,” said Helton.

Helton attended her son’s first appearance at the Volusia County jail on Tuesday.

“He didn’t look good, you know, he just can’t believe this is happening because all he’s ever done is try to help children that have problems,” said Helton.

At last check, Gorzelanczyk was being held on a $100,000 bond.  His mother says his family is working to get him out of jail.

Anyone with information about Gorzelanczyk is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 386-323-3574 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-TIPS (8477).