The Rev. Theodore Gabrielli, 61, faces 26 counts of child molestation that reportedly occurred decades ago over a period of multiple years.
He previously worked for the Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose, Dolores Mission church in Los Angeles, two social ministries in Los Gatos, on the Loyola High School of Los Angeles Board of Directors and most recently at Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Diego. He was arrested in Los Osos on June 12, according to SLO County Sheriff’s Office booking records.
Gabrielli faces nine counts of forced oral copulation with a minor in San Luis Obispo County, two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a minor in San Luis Obispo County, two counts of forced oral copulation with a minor in Los Angeles County, nine counts of forced oral copulation with a minor in Santa Clara County, three counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child in Santa Clara County and one count of forcible lewd acts upon a child in El Dorado County, the updated complaint said.
The crimes were allegedly committed between June 1991 and August 2010, according to the complaint.
The Rev. Theodore Gabrielli leads Mass at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 25th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice from Oct. 22-24, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Theodore Gabrielli leads Mass at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s 25th annual Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice from Oct. 22-24, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Three children were under the age of 14, and one was under the age of 18, according to the charges.
At the time, Gabrielli would have been at least 27 years old. Three of the children were identified as male members of the same family who first met Gabrielli when their family was living in Mexico, the Sheriff’s Office said in a prior news release.
The family became close with Gabrielli and he was allowed to take the three boys with him to many places in California, the agency said. This included his parents’ house in Los Osos — where Gabrielli was accused of sexually assaulting the boys over the course of about eight years.
It’s unclear where Gabrielli allegedly abused the fourth victim.
The Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case after it received a child abuse report on Aug. 28, 2024.
Survivors of Gabrielli’s alleged abuse or those with additional information can contact the sheriff’s Detective Division at 805-781-4500.
Callers can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP (7867).
Tips can also be submitted at P3tips.com or slotips.org.
Gabrielli will attend a pre-preliminary hearing on July 31 in Department 6 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, with Judge Michael S. Frye presiding.