On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced 34-year-old Gabriel Vigil has been charged with multiple sex crimes against a minor. Vigil worked as a baseball coach and substitute staffer at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, and authorities believe there may be additional victims.
Between May 1 and July 1 of this year, Vigil allegedly committed multiple felony sex crimes against a female student while working at Cabrillo. The alleged conduct occurred at multiple locations, including at Vigil’s apartment.
According to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD), the investigation into Vigil began July 1 after a Cabrillo staff member initially reported the alleged crime. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Elyse Rendon of the Sex Crimes Division and is being investigated by LBPD.
“Sex predators who exploit their position of trust in a school setting and target minors should know that my office will work with law enforcement to find you, arrest you, and hold you fully accountable,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a public statement. “We fully support the victim in this case as prosecutors in our Sex Crimes Division seek justice against the perpetrator. We encourage any additional victims to contact our office or the Long Beach Police Department as the investigation is ongoing.”
This isn’t the first time an employee of the Long Beach Unified School District has been accused of sexual abuse in recent years. In June 2023, Michael Quigley, a former volunteer swim and water polo coach at Jordan High School, was arrested on seven counts of sexual battery and seven counts of annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18.
Vigil was charged with one felony count for each of the following:
- Sexual penetration of a person under 18
- Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor more than three years younger
- Oral copulation of a person under 18
- Contacting a minor for a sexual offense
- Distributing or showing pornography to a minor
He is also charged with two felony counts of meeting a minor for lewd purposes.
Vigil pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday when arraigned at the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach. Bail is set at $250,000 and a preliminary hearing setting has been scheduled for Aug. 4.
If he is convicted as charged, Vigil faces up to eight years in state prison and he would be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Any additional victims are urged to contact the LBPD’s Sex Crimes Division at 562-570-7321.
