Shocking Breach at Phoenix Elementary: Convicted Sex Offender Faces Federal Custody Hold After Alleged Assault on 10-Year-Old Girl

Phoenix, AZ – November 28, 2025  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a detainer on a convicted Liberian sex offender accused of sneaking into a Phoenix elementary school and sexually assaulting a young girl last week. The suspect, 25-year-old Abel Kai Gblah, remains behind bars in Maricopa County Jail, facing a cascade of felony charges amid revelations of his extensive criminal history and repeated probation failures.

The alleged assault unfolded on Wednesday, November 19, at Orangewood Elementary School, located near 19th Avenue and Orangewood Avenue in north Phoenix. According to Phoenix Police Department reports, Gblah, a registered Level 2 sex offender, slipped onto the campus by tailing a tardy student through an unlocked interior lobby door around 12:20 p.m. Once inside, he approached a 10-year-old girl heading to the nurse's office, falsely identifying himself as a doctor who needed to perform "tests" on her. He then lured the child into a vacant classroom, where authorities say he carried out the sexual assault.

The victim fought back, pushing Gblah away and alerting school staff, who immediately locked down the campus from 12:20 p.m. until nearly 1:45 p.m. Officers arrived swiftly, and surveillance footage—enhanced by recent security upgrades—proved pivotal in the investigation. Detectives matched Gblah's distinctive attire, including a torn patch on the knee of his jeans, to the video evidence. Within an hour, they tracked him to his nearby residence, about two miles from the school, where additional items like a matching shirt were recovered. Gblah initially denied any involvement during questioning, claiming he had only stepped out for a cigarette.

This is not Gblah's first brush with the law. Court records reveal a troubling pattern: In 2021, he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual conduct with a minor after allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl with autism and cerebral palsy. In exchange for avoiding prison time, he was sentenced to lifetime probation and mandated to register as a sex offender. Yet, compliance proved elusive. Between March and October 2022 alone, Gblah racked up nearly two dozen violations, including missing probation meetings, possessing a smartphone, viewing pornography, lying about contact with minors, breaching a protection order, and fleeing to Miami without permission—landing him six months in jail.

Released from Lower Buckeye Jail just four days before the Orangewood incident, on November 15, Gblah's supervision lapsed into federal scrutiny when ICE lodged the detainer on November 26. The agency described him as a "criminal alien" and permanent U.S. resident from Liberia, eligible to live and work in the country but now subject to potential deportation proceedings. ICE's move underscores growing concerns over immigration enforcement in high-profile criminal cases, though officials emphasized that Gblah's legal status does not alter the gravity of the local charges.Gblah faces multiple felonies, including sexual assault, kidnapping, and probation violation. A judge set a $500,000 cash-only bond for the new allegations but ruled him non-bondable due to the breaches in his prior sentence. His preliminary hearing is slated for December 1.

The incident has ignited outrage and prompted swift responses from the Washington Elementary School District, which confirmed Gblah attended Orangewood as a student from 2012 to 2015. Principal Emily Paterson addressed families in an email, acknowledging the suspect's familiarity with the campus and vowing a "thorough review" of safety measures. One employee has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation, and armed security guards will patrol the school through the end of the week. "We understand how concerning situations like this can be," Paterson wrote. "Please know that I am working closely with our staff and District Security to ensure Orangewood remains a safe place."

Phoenix Police Sergeant Rob Scherer hailed the rapid arrest as a testament to community vigilance, while offering counseling resources to the victim's family. "The Phoenix Police Department recognizes the impact this incident has on the child, the family, and the entire community," the department stated in a release.State lawmakers, including Sen. Janea Shamp, R-Phoenix, have demanded accountability from the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department, which promised its own "thorough review" of sex offender monitoring protocols.

17GEN4