FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Detective Brian McGregor

Email: bmcgregor@kennerpd.com

Office: (504) 712-2252

Date: October 23, 2008

College professor arrested in online internet sting

Kenner - The Kenner Police Department assisted by the Ruston Police Department have arrested a college professor associated with the Louisiana Tech University, in Ruston, Louisiana. Ralph Gabriel, 55, of Ruston, Louisiana was arrested and charged with the crimes of computer aided solicitation for sexual purposes (1-count) and indecent behavior with a juvenile (5-counts). The investigation began when a Kenner detective entered into an online chat room posing as a juvenile. Gabriel, who used the screen name “rjg_pe” contacted the juvenile on five separate occasions between September 30, 2008 and October 8, 2008. On each occasion Gabriel invited the juvenile to view his webcam. Upon viewing the webcam detectives observed Gabriel exposing his penis and masturbating.

Gabriel was interviewed by detectives and admitted to exposing himself and masturbating on his webcam to possibly 50 juvenile females who were under the age of 18-years-old that he met in online chat rooms. He also told investigators that there were images of child pornography saved on his computer. Gabriel’s computers were seized and will undergo a computer forensic exam.

If convicted, Gabriel will be required to register as a sex offender and faces imprisonment at hard labor for not less than five (5) years or more than ten (10) years. With multiple charges he could be sentenced longer.

Chief Steve Caraway encourages anyone with information concerning this incident, or having information regarding anyone exploiting children, illegally possessing or selling child pornography, or online enticement of children for sexual purposes, to contact the Kenner Police Department at (504) 712-2222, Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cyber tip hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Detective Robert McGraw is the investigating detective.

Ralph Gabriel

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