WEST CHESTER, PA — A Chester County jury convicted 47-year-old Gabriel Annable, of Phoenixville on Friday of two counts of indecent assault against a child under the age of 16 years old, indecent exposure, corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor. He will be sentenced at a later date.
“The defendant took advantage of a mother’s trust, and he intentionally violated the victim’s safety for his own sexual gratification. We are thankful for the West Goshen Police Department for their investigation, and the prosecutors for their great work in bringing justice to the victims,” Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan.
Information presented in court showed that on October 11, 2021, a 14-year-old victim disclosed numerous accounts of abuse during a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center. The victim reported that from November 2018 to August 2019 when the defendant visited a residence in West Goshen Township he touched her unlawfully.
The victim said the defendant placed his hand under her shirt and rubbed her bare skin by the rib cage, chest, and side of her breast. On another occasion, a younger sibling saw that while the victim was sleeping on the couch the defendant masturbated standing over her.
The sibling also disclosed another incident where they walked in on the defendant in the kitchen of the residence with his shorts down and his genitals exposed appearing to be taking pictures of himself.
Another child in the house reported that he saw the defendant’s genitals and believed he was masturbating in the living room.
The defendant was previously convicted for similar offenses that occurred in Phoenixville Borough in 2004.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan commended the West Goshen Police Department for the investigation which led to the successful prosecution of Annable. Senior Deputy District Attorney Erin O’Brien and ADA Kim Connolly are the assigned prosecutors.
Call Childline if you suspect child abuse: 1-800-932-0313.
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