ONEONTA, Ala. (WIAT) -- A Blountsville man has been convicted of sexual abusing a child under the age of 12, according to prosecutor Scott Gilliland on Wednesday.
Jeffery Allen Gable, 54, was also convicted of sexual torture. Gable was indicted in October 2020, and the case was called to trial Monday.
Gilliland stated Blount County authorities received a report in June 2020 that Gable had sexually abused a 3-year-old girl with a sex toy. The child was interviewed at the Blount County Children's Center.
With the information provided, child abuse investigator Ed Hull of the Blount County Sheriff's Office acquired a search warrant for Gable's residence. According to Gilliland, Hill found a purple phallic sex toy in Gable's bedroom closet.
Haley Jenkins, who was employed with Blount County Department of Human Resources in June 2020, testified in the case on behalf of the state. Jenkins testified she spoke with Gable about the allegations. Jenkins said Gable denied the allegations, but he asserted the 3-year-old girl was caught on his bed with her pants down playing with the sex toy. Gable, according to Jenkins, said he would never commit the alleged actions because "he was unable to perform."
In the trial, another witness testified she walked down the hallway of Gable's residence to check on the child on June 19, 2020. The witness claimed she looked in the bedroom and saw the child laying on Gable's bed with her pants around her ankles and the sex toy in her hand.
“Once again, I appreciate the work of our partners at DHR, the Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Blount County Sheriff’s Department who had a role in bringing another sexual predator to justice," said Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey in a statement. "My heart breaks every time I see a child walk in a courtroom to testify in a sexual abuse case. But, we are fortunate here in Blount County to have a team of professionals devoted to seeking justice on behalf of victims of these crimes.”
Gable's sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 4.