Judge advances 24 felony child molestation charges against former priest

A San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge has cleared the way for a full criminal trial against a former Catholic priest accused of sexually abusing four children over nearly two decades — a case that stretches across six California counties and has been winding through the local justice system since the defendant's arrest last year.

Judge Finds Probable Cause on All 24 Counts

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced Friday that Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino found sufficient evidence to hold former priest Theodore Edward Gabrielli, 62, to answer on 24 felony counts involving the alleged molestation of four children, according to the Paso Robles Daily News. The ruling came at the conclusion of a four-day preliminary hearing during which all four victims — now adults — took the stand to testify.

A preliminary hearing is a procedural milestone in California felony cases: a judge weighs whether the prosecution has established probable cause — a strong suspicion, supported by evidence, that a crime was committed and that the named defendant committed it. When that bar is cleared, as it was here, the defendant is formally "held to answer" and the case advances on what is called a criminal information, setting the stage for arraignment and, ultimately, trial.

Prosecutors signaled they are not finished building the case. According to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office, the DA's office is considering filing additional charges it believes were proven during the preliminary hearing.

A Case With Deep Local Roots — and a Long Timeline

The investigation that led to this week's ruling began in August 2024, when the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office received a report of child abuse that investigators say first occurred more than 30 years ago, according to KSBY. The Sheriff's Special Victims Unit launched an immediate investigation, and detectives ultimately arrested Gabrielli on June 12, 2025, in the community of Los Osos — a short drive from San Luis Obispo — where he had ties through his family's home.

The alleged offenses span from 1991 through 2010 and occurred across six California counties, the DA's office confirmed. According to CalCoastNews, court records indicate Gabrielli was accused of bringing children to the Central Coast, where some of the alleged abuse took place. The victims, who were under the age of 14 at the time of the alleged offenses, were living in Mexico when their family befriended Gabrielli. Sheriff's investigators say Gabrielli was allowed to take the boys on trips across California, including to his parents' Los Osos residence, where victims allege the assaults occurred.

Gabrieli had worked with churches and schools in San Jose, Los Gatos, and Los Angeles, including Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose and Social Ministries in Los Gatos, CalCoastNews reported. At the time of his arrest last year, he was also a member of the Loyola High School of Los Angeles Board of Directors and was working with the Dolores Mission in Los Angeles.

How the Charges Have Evolved

The case has expanded substantially since Gabrielli's initial arrest. Prosecutors have added charges multiple times as the investigation progressed and additional victims came forward.

In January 2026, BishopAccountability.org reported that nine additional counts had been added to the case, including allegations of aggravated sexual assault and sodomy by force, pushing the total at that time to 35 counts. Those additional charges spanned multiple counties — including El Dorado, Sacramento, and San Diego — though prosecutors can only pursue offenses that occurred within California jurisdiction. Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa B. Muscari, who heads the DA's Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit and is prosecuting the current case, told The Tribune that one victim described the abuse as rape.

The 24 felony counts on which Gabrielli was held to answer this week represent the charges the court found sufficient probable cause to advance — and the DA's office has indicated more may follow.

What Comes Next for the Case

Gabrieli is scheduled to return to the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse on July 14 for arraignment on the criminal information, this time in Department 8, according to the Paso Robles Daily News. He remains in custody at the San Luis Obispo County Jail without bail.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office led the investigation with assistance from the DA's Office Bureau of Investigation. Chief Deputy DA Lisa B. Muscari of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit is prosecuting. Victim services have been provided by victim advocate Tristan Milledge.

"This ruling affirms that there is sufficient evidence for these serious allegations to be fully heard in court," DA Dan Dow said in a statement following the ruling. "Cases involving the sexual abuse of children leave lasting harm, and our office is committed to holding offenders accountable regardless of when these crimes occurred."

Authorities are still asking anyone with additional information — or anyone who believes they may be a victim — to contact the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Detective Division at (805) 781-4500. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-7867, or online at slotips.org.

Presumption of Innocence

As the case heads toward arraignment and trial, it is important to note that the charges against Gabrielli are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.