FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison For Sexually Assaulting Two Young Girls
October 10, 2024
District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on October 9, 2024, 33-year-old Edward John Gabriel IV of Bush was sentenced to 50 years in prison after he pled guilty to a variety of charges related to the sexual assault of two young girls who were between the ages of 12 and 15 at the time of the assaults. A 12-person jury had been selected and witness testimony was about to commence when the defendant changed his plea to guilty. Assistant District Attorneys Iain Dover and Tiffany Dover prosecuted the case. Detective Adrianne Bieller with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office was in charge of the investigation.
Gabriel pled guilty to one count each of second degree rape, oral sexual battery and carnal knowledge and four counts of sexual battery. Immediately following his guilty plea, Judge Tara Zeller sentenced him to 50 years in prison on two of the sexual battery charges, 30 years in prison on the second degree rape, and 10 years in prison on the remaining charges. The sentences were ordered to run concurrent.
The defendant first came into contact with the girls in 2020 when he began assisting their mother with repairs around their residence near Covington. At some point, the mother allowed the defendant to move into a trailer on the property. Over time, the defendant groomed the two girls, gaining their trust and building emotional bonds with them. The defendant then gradually began sexually exploiting the girls.
The abuse was brought to the attention of authorities in November, 2021, when the Department of Children and Family Services received a complaint that a man named “Eddie Gabriel” was engaging in sex with a female juvenile. DCFS notified the St Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and Detective Bieller was assigned to the case.
The investigation revealed Gabriel had sexually abused the two sisters on numerous occasions over an extended period. It was also learned the girls’ mother became aware of the abuse in late 2020. At that time, the family responded by forcing Gabriel to move off the property but no one notified authorities. Soon afterwards, the mother allowed the defendant to move back on the property and, according to the girls, the sexual abuse resumed until DCFS was notified in late 2021.
In addition to Gabriel being arrested, the girls’ mother was arrested for her failure to take proper action when she was informed of the abuse in 2020. In 2023, she pled guilty to her charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Her name is being withheld to protect the identity of the girls.
Once authorities became involved in 2021, both girls were provided care by the Children’s Advocacy Center in Covington and the Audrey Hepburn CARE Center affiliated with Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. District Attorney Collin Sims wishes to acknowledge the vital services these two agencies provide to young victims of abuse in our local communities.
During Gabriel’s guilty plea, one of the victims was present in court and confirmed she supported the guilty plea and sentencing terms. Unfortunately, the second victim passed away in 2022 of a Fentanyl drug overdose. In connection with her death, a St. Tammany Parish grand jury indicted two adults for distributing drugs to a minor and for murder. Those defendants are set for trial later this year.