A man from Palm Coast was taken into custody on Tuesday after a lengthy investigation revealed that he had been repeatedly sexually assaulting a child over the course of several years, as announced by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.
Jessy Kalani Andrew Gilbreath, 28, who was listed as a transient in his booking details, faces five charges of sexual battery on a minor aged 12 to 18 by a person in a familial or custodial position, along with one charge of sexual battery on a minor under 12 years old.
As of Wednesday, he was being held without bail at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.
The Major Case Unit’s detectives commenced their inquiry into the assault after staff at Advent Health Palm Coast hospital reported the incident on September 23, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Ava Hanner.
During their investigation, they discovered that the child was being subjected to sexual assault by an individual known to them. These assaults began when the child was between the ages of 4 and 6, Hanner stated.
Detectives visited Gilbreath’s residence and confiscated various items, including a cell phone, iPad, camcorder, and other belongings.
Through DNA testing conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, detectives were able to establish that Gilbreath was responsible for the sexual battery against the juvenile, Hanner explained.
Sheriff Rick Staly expressed his hope that Gilbreath will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
“This is a gut-wrenching case involving a defenseless child who has endured years of sexual battery by this pervert,” Staly stated. “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.”
