BUNNELL, Fla. — On October 21, almost one year after his arrest, Jessy Gilbreath, 29, of Palm Coast, pled guilty to five counts of Sexual Battery on a Minor 12-18 Years of Age by a Person in Familial or Custodial Authority and one count of Lewd/Lascivious Molestation of a Person 18 Years or Older with a Victim 12 Years of Age or Younger. Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols sentenced Gilbreath to 30 years in prison with no gain time. Upon completing his sentence and release, Gilbreath will be required to register as a sexual predator.
“Let this predator be a reminder to anyone who thinks about taking a child’s innocence away. We will track you down and put you in prison for a very long time where you belong,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “The victim can now focus on recovery and healing. I commend our Major Case Unit team, who spent countless hours investigating this case to ensure the victim received justice and this pervert was held accountable for his actions.”
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2023
ORIGINAL RELEASE #: 2023 – 207
Male Arrested on Six Counts of Sexual Battery on a Juvenile
BUNNELL, FL – A 28-year-old man has been arrested for sexually battering a juvenile multiple times over the span of several years.
In September 2023, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Advent Health in Palm Coast after hospital staff called to report a possible sex offense involving a juvenile. Detectives from the Major Case Unit responded and began the investigation.
During the investigation, the juvenile reported that a known male had been sexually battering the victim since the victim was between the ages of 4 and 6 years old. Detectives responded to the male’s residence and seized several items including a cell phone, iPad, camcorder, and other items. Through DNA testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, detectives were able to confirm the male had been involved in sexually battering the juvenile.
28-year-old Jessy Kalani Andrew Gilbreath was arrested on October 24, 2023, after the months-long investigation. Gilbreath was arrested for 5 counts of Sexual Battery on a Minor 12-18 Years Old by a person in Familial or Custodial Authority and one count of Sexual Battery on a Minor Less than 12 Years Old. He is being held at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility on no bond.
“This is a gut-wrenching case involving a defenseless child who has endured years of sexual battery by this pervert,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I am glad the juvenile was able to find the strength to report what had been occurring to them for years and I hope they get the help and support they need. This guy took the juvenile’s childhood and innocence away and now he needs to spend the rest of his life locked up. I commend our Major Case detectives and thank FDLE for quickly processing the evidence so we could arrest this child predator.”
