A registered sex offender has been accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old student at Phoenix's Orangewood Elementary School, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Abel Kai Gblah, allegedly entered the school grounds by following a student who was buzzed in and subsequently lured the victim into a vacant classroom where the assault took place on Nov. 19.
Gblah, who has a history of sexual conduct with a minor, was apprehended by Phoenix Police and was wearing the same attire captured in campus security footage. "Telling the student he was a doctor who needed to perform tests on the student once in the vacant classroom, he committed sexual offenses against the victim," said a prosecutor during Gblah's initial court appearance, showcasing a concerning pattern of deception and predation, in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
In a deeper investigation of Gblah's background, 12 News reports numerous probation violations starting soon after he began reporting to adult probation in March 2022, violations that included missed meetings use of a smartphone, and lying about contact with minors, illustrating an alarming and regular disregard for the judicial system's attempts at rehabilitation and oversight.
A look at court records revealed Gblah's problematic compliance with probation terms, including missed sex offender treatment classes and being discharged from the program, which raised serious questions about the effectiveness of probation oversight by authorities; "I think that's very serious. In my career, missing treatment, being discharged from treatment, not going to treatment, was very serious, and I've arrested many folks for for missing two, three," Beth Goulden, retired Maricopa County probation supervisor and chairwoman of the Arizona Sex Offender Management Board, told 12 News.
In response to the incident, the Washington Elementary School District said in a statement, "On Wednesday, November 19, Orangewood administration was made aware of an unauthorized male on campus they immediately called 911 and placed the school on lockdown from 12:20 to 1:45 p.m.," Further details of the statement were reported by 12 News. An employee has been placed on administrative leave, and the school is reviewing safety procedures in light of the recent event. Gblah is being held non-bondable for his probation violation, with an additional $500,000 cash bond for the recent alleged assault at Orangewood Elementary.
