Howard Superior Court 1 issued a warrant last week for the arrest of a man charged with multiple crimes against a child.
On Jan. 31, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Gabriel Ellis on charges of child exploitation, a level five felony, and possession of child pornography, a level 6 felony. Both charges stem from an alleged relationship with a minor.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Ellis first was arrested on Jan. 5 after a local law enforcement officer observed him driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am with a license plate that didn?t match the car he was operating. A traffic stop was initiated, and a vehicle pursuit began that eventually resulted in Ellis being pulled over.
After he was pulled over, Ellis allegedly was found to be in possession of heroin. As a result, Ellis was arrested, and his cellphone was taken into police custody. The following day a search warrant was obtained by KPD to search Ellis? phone. Upon searching the phone, ?photographs and videos of Gabriel Ellis and an unknown female both in the nude and having sexual intercourse,? according to the affidavit.
Later, police learned the female in the photos and videos on the phone was a 16-year-old juvenile, according to the affidavit.
Police interviewed the alleged victim?s mother on Jan. 18, and it was then when she positively identified the victim portrayed in the images on Ellis? phone.
According to the affidavit, when police spoke with the alleged victim?s mother, ?She knew why (the police) had needed to speak with her. When asked to elaborate, (she) said she had called Child Protective Services in August or September because she believed that (her daughter) had been going to Gabriel Ellis? home without permission. She said that (the alleged victim) had been coming home with new bras and panties that she had not purchased.?
The affidavit continues, and the mother of the alleged victim said in an interview that she ?thought it was odd that a 40-year-old man would buy a then-15-year-old girl undergarments, so she asked (the victim) if she had been sexually active with Ellis. (The alleged victim) denied being sexually active with him.?
The CPS investigation, which came as a result of the complaint the department received on Aug. 30, 2016, did not yield results because the alleged victim ?denied being sexually involved with Gabriel Ellis at the time. However, CPS investigators had found (the alleged victim) at Gabriel Ellis? home when they went to locate the both of them.?
Then, after the detective investigating the case filed a preliminary report of alleged child abuse with CPS, a CPS investigator assigned to Ellis? alleged victim?s case contacted the KPD investigator in charge of the criminal investigation. According to the probable cause affidavit, the CPS worker had gone to the alleged victim?s home on Jan. 20, where he discovered the alleged victim ?ran away from home the previous day. Her status as a runaway was reported to the Howard County Sheriff?s Department.?
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?Not only had (the alleged victim?s mother) reported the (alleged victim) as a runaway, but she also advised that (the victim had run away with the suspect in this case, Gabriel Ellis,? reads the affidavit. ?(The alleged victim) told a younger sister that she was going to the Super 8 motel with Ellis that day and before they went to Gas City.?
The detective made contact with the motel; however, neither Ellis or his alleged victim?s names had been used to register a room. And ?there was no information provided as to where in Gas City they may go; therefore, their current whereabouts are unknown.?
As a result of the investigation by KPD, the warrant on Jan. 31 was issued. When Ellis first was taken into custody on Jan. 5, he bonded out of Howard County Jail for a sum of $12,000 with 10 percent allowed. On Feb. 10, Ellis? bond was revoked, and as of press time he hadn?t been located by the police. For his first arrest, Ellis also was charged with dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic drug, unlawful possession of a syringe, maintaining a common nuisance, resisting law enforcement, and theft of a firearm.
All of these charges range from a level four felony to level six. He also was charged with possession of marijuana and driving while suspended, both A misdemeanors.
The new warrant alleges charges of possession of child pornography, a level six felony, and one count of child exploitation, a level five felony. As of press time neither Ellis nor his alleged victim had been located.