Archdiocese of Washington suspends priest charged with indecent exposure

Boston, Mass., Sep 2, 2022 / 16:44 pm (CNA).

A Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Washington has been placed on administrative leave and suspended from public ministry pending an investigation after he was charged with the misdemeanor offense of indecent exposure Aug. 25. 

The allegations in charging documents say that Father Jaroslaw “Jerry” Gamrot, pastor of Holy Face Parish and administrator of Little Flower School in Great Mills, Maryland was masturbating in a vehicle on Route 70 and exposed himself to a man driving in another vehicle, baynet.com reported.

The outlet reported that the incident occurred on Jul. 25 and that Gamrot, 58, allegedly pulled his vehicle next to the man’s vehicle three times and exposed himself, while wearing no pants.

Baynet.com reported that on Gamrot’s last attempt in his alleged exposure, the man snapped a photo of Gamrot and his license plate. The individual reported the incident two days later, according to Elena Russo, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Police.

Further investigation indicated Gamrot was the suspected operator of the vehicle, Russo told CNA Friday.

Charging documents said that Gamrot admitted to driving the vehicle when police interviewed him Aug. 21 at his Frederick County residence, the outlet reported.

The archdiocese’s statement says that “Father Jerry Gamrot has been placed on administrative leave and suspended from public ministry pending an investigation into alleged misconduct away from the parish and school.”

“No determination about Father Gamrot’s future will be made until the investigation is concluded,” the statement concluded.

According to the Maryland state court website, Gamrot’s next hearing is set for Sept. 25 in Frederick District Court. 

Gamrot was born in Poland and studied at the Catholic University of Lublin with a Master’s of Divinity, according to the Holy Face parish website. Ordained in 1991, Gamrot has since served in Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

Baynet.com reported that Gamrot has a clean criminal record, with only a speeding ticket in 2019.