Phoenixville Man Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse

WEST CHESTER, PA –A Chester County jury convicted a 47-year-old Phoenixville man Friday on charges of having sexual contact with a minor from 2018 to 2021 in West Goshen Township.

Gabriel Annabel is in Chester County Prison awaiting sentencing after being convicted of indecent exposure, unlawful contact of a minor, and corrupting a minor.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said Annabel took advantage of a mother’s trust and violated the victim’s safety for his gratification.

In October 2021, the victim, whose name is being withheld by Patch due to the nature of the charges, told police that she was abused numerous times from November 2018 to August 2019 in a West Goshen Township residence.

The victim said that Annable put his hand under her shirt and rubbed her skin, including the side of her breast.

A younger sibling of the victim said Annabel masturbated while watching the victim sleeping.

The sibling also disclosed another incident where they walked in on the defendant in the kitchen of the residence with his shorts down and his genitals exposed appearing to be taking pictures of himself.

Another child in the house reported that he saw the defendant’s genitals and believed he was masturbating in the living room.

In 2004, Annabel was sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in Chester County Prison after pleading guilty to indecent exposure.

The district attorney’s office asks anyone who suspects that child abuse has occurred to call Childline: 1-800-932-0313.