91-Year-Old Accused of Molestation

A 91-year-old man, the oldest ever to be charged with child molestation in San Diego County, was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on 14 counts.

Jack Clarence Goings, a former merchant marine who maintains his innocence, is accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl in El Cajon.

The girl Wednesday gave graphic testimony of the alleged molestation in Goings’ apartment at his preliminary hearing. The girl and her mother were the only witnesses at the hearing, and San Diego Municipal Judge William Woodward then bound Goings over to Superior Court.

“His age makes the case so unusual,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Laura Rogers said. “We feel the victim is extremely credible. He would give her a dollar and do what he felt like doing.”

Rogers said she probably will add more charges, based on the girl’s testimony, before the trial-setting appearance March 18 in Superior Court.

Goings was arrested Feb. 18 by El Cajon police and posted $50,000 bail last weekend. The terms of his release are that he have no contact with the girl or appear anywhere that minors congregate.

The girl testified that Goings touched her more than 20 times between December, 1990, and last month. The elderly man undressed her and French-kissed her, she said. “When did all this stop?” the prosecutor asked.

“When I told my mother. I didn’t want it to happen anymore,” she replied.

Goings has never been convicted of child molestation.