After a four-day preliminary hearing packed with emotional testimony from adults who say they were abused as children, a San Luis Obispo County judge has ordered former Jesuit priest Theodore Edward Gabrielli to stand trial on felony child molestation charges. The 62-year-old remains in custody and is expected to return to court for arraignment next month.
Judge Sends Case To Trial
San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said in a press release that this ruling affirms that there is sufficient evidence for these serious allegations to be fully heard in court, and added that his office is considering additional charges, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office. Judge Jesse Marino heard four days of testimony before concluding that probable cause existed. The release also noted that Gabrielli is scheduled to be arraigned on July 14, 2026, and remains jailed without bail.
Charges And Timeline
Following the hearing, Gabrielli was held to answer on 24 felony counts that prosecutors say include forced oral copulation, aggravated sexual assault and sodomy by force, after an initially larger set of charges was pared down, as reported by The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Prosecutors say the alleged incidents span from 1991 through 2010 and occurred across six California counties. Several victims testified that some of the abuse happened during trips the priest took with them when they were children.
Parish Work And Ties
Gabrielli has served in parishes and ministries across Northern and Southern California, including Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose, social ministries in Los Gatos and the Dolores Mission in Los Angeles, and he was listed on the Loyola High School of Los Angeles Board of Directors when he was arrested, according to CalCoast News. Local reporting says some institutions removed online bios after his arrest, and those long-standing ties have drawn scrutiny as the case moved forward in San Luis Obispo County.
Victims' Accounts
Four alleged victims took the stand during the preliminary hearing: three brothers from Mexico and a fourth man from San Jose, all of whom said they were permitted to travel with Gabrielli when they were children. One witness described years of abuse and told the court that Gabrielli would speak directly to God, asking for strength before an assault, according to The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Gabrielli was arrested on June 12, 2025, in Los Osos, and prosecutors said some alleged assaults occurred at his parents’ home there.
What Happens Next
Gabrielli is scheduled to be arraigned July 14, 2026, in Department 8 of the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse and remains held without bail, the DA's office said. The release explains that a preliminary hearing is meant to determine whether probable cause exists to require a defendant to stand trial, and the office said it may seek additional charges based on testimony presented during the hearing, according to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office. Media were directed to Assistant District Attorney Eric Dobroth for further inquiries.
Public Note
Officials emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Gabrielli is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Victim advocates said they hope the proceedings encourage other survivors to come forward, while warning that such cases can take months or years to resolve.
