PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A convicted sex offender is back in jail after Phoenix police say he snuck into an elementary school and posed as a doctor before sexually assaulting a young girl.
Abel Kai Gblah, 25, is being held on several felony charges in connection with the incident that happened earlier this week at Orangewood Elementary School.
Just before 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Phoenix police were called to the school at 19th and Orangewood avenues for reports that a child had been sexually assaulted.
According to court documents, Gblah told a 10-year-old girl that he was a doctor and that she needed to go with him into an empty classroom because he “needed to perform tests.” In the classroom, Gblah allegedly pulled down the child’s pants and sexually assaulted her. When the girl told him to stop and pushed him away, he reportedly left the school.
“I don’t think this was just a crime of opportunity. This is one of those pre-planned events and (he) decided, ‘This is what I’m going to do. This is how I’m going to do it. This is what I’m going to do to get done what he wanted to get done,” said Phoenix Police Sgt. Rob Scherer.
The police department worked with an intelligence officer and the real-time operations center to analyze surveillance video from security cameras the school had recently upgraded. Police matched the suspect’s clothing down to a torn patch in the knee of his jeans and said that information led them to Gblah.
“Within the very first hour of this investigation, the officer’s response led them to the front door of ultimately the suspect, 25-year-old Abel Gblah,” said Scherer.
Records show Gblah is a level 2 sex offender. He was previously convicted in connection with a 2021 case involving child sex crimes.
His home was 2.1 miles away from the school, a distance that abides by Arizona law requiring the worst sex offenders on probation to live at least 1,000 feet away from a school.
“So, according to level 2 standards, he doesn’t have to live 1,000 feet from the school. He’d have to be level 3. So clearly this guy should have been a level 3 sex offender,” said Jessica Nicley, a child abuse prevention expert.
Gblah was arrested and booked for sexual assault, kidnapping and probation violation. Per documents, Gblah was interviewed by detectives following his arrest, and he denied being at the school.
Court records show Gblah was offered a plea deal three years ago and pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor, while charges of child sex trafficking and luring a minor were dismissed. We asked County Attorney Rachel Mitchell about this on Thursday.
“During the first case, I wasn’t county attorney, and unfortunately, I wasn’t in sex crimes at the time. So I have many, if not all, of the same questions that you do. There’s a lot of procedure involved,” she stated.
School officials later learned that the suspect got into the building by following a student who had been buzzed in through the main entrance. A statement from the Washington Elementary School District says he was on campus for about 10 minutes.
After the assault, the school was placed on lockdown from 12:20 p.m. until 1:45 p.m.
District officials say an Orangewood employee has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues. The district says safety procedures will be reviewed and that security guards will be on campus for the rest of the week.
“The Phoenix Police Department recognizes the impact this incident has on the child, the family, and the entire community,” the department said in a news release. “We are ensuring the child and the family have access to the full range of support services they may need during this difficult time.”
The school district’s full statement is below:
“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. Upon investigation, it was determined that the individual gained access behind a student who was buzzed in through the main entrance. He was on campus for approximately 10 minutes and during that time, he made inappropriate contact with a student. Orangewood and WESD administrators have been working closely with the Phoenix Police throughout the investigation and last night they informed the District that an arrest had been made. The Phoenix Police can provide additional information about the matter.
“The school and district understand how concerning situations like this can be. An Orangewood employee has been placed on administrative leave while the District continues its investigation. The school administrator will be working closely with staff and District Security to review safety procedures to ensure they are doing everything possible to keep Orangewood a safe place for students and staff. Additionally, District Security will be on campus for the remainder of the week.
“School and District administrators truly appreciate the Phoenix Police Department’s quick response to the matter. We are beyond grateful for their help and support and we are thankful they were able to apprehend this individual so quickly. The school and district are working closely with the child and the child’s family to provide any and all resources and support that they might need.”
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