Edgewater Child Sex Offender Sentenced To Prison

EDGEWATER, MD — An Edgewater man who sexually abused a girl for four years in her home has been sentenced to prison, Anne Arundel County prosecutors said Monday. Gabriel Morales, 31, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Michele D. Jaklitsch to 10 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor.

"Mr. Morales traumatized the victim in her own home and violated the trust of her entire family," said Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Wes Adams in a statement Monday. "I'm grateful to Judge (Michele) Jaklitsch for passing such a strong sentence, and applaud the victim's courage in reporting this crime and allowing my office to advocate for justice on her behalf."

On April 27, Annapolis Police received a report of child sex offense and the 11-year-old victim talked to authorities at the Department of Social Services Child Advocacy Center. Investigators learned that Morales, the boyfriend of the victim's family member, committed repeated acts of sexual abuse when the victim was between 6 and 9 years old. The victim lived in the same household as Morales when the abuse occurred.

Morales pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of a minor on October 4, 2017. He was sentenced to 25 years suspend all but 10 years of active incarceration, and five years of supervised probation upon release. Morales is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

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