Detectives Seek Additional Victims of Sexual Assault NR23101lr

Northridge:   The Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Area Sexual Assault Detectives are seeking additional victims who were sexually assaulted or involved with a basketball coach of a local Granada Hills High School.

On April 19, 2023, 36-year-old Gabriel Chavez, a resident of Chatsworth, was arrested for 289 (I) PC – Penetration of a Foreign Object of a Minor.  Chavez has been charged with multiple counts of Lewd Acts with a Minor and is currently held on $310,000 bail, Booking No. 6589199.

Chavez was a basketball coach at a local Granada Hills High School, located near the 10500 Block of Zelzah Avenue, when he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.  His employment with the high school ended in January 2023.  Chavez has a history of employment and volunteer work at various youth programs throughout the city.

This is an ongoing investigation and there is a collaborative effort by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Detective Division and personnel from the high school.  A photograph of Chavez is being released in hopes to identify and speak with additional persons who may have been victimized by Chavez, or who may have witnessed Chavez engage in inappropriate behavior.

Anyone with information may contact Devonshire Area Sexual Assault investigators, Detective II Danielle Tumbleson and Detective III Ruben Arellano, at (818) 832-0609.  During non-business hours or on weekend calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).  Those wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.  Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip.  Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program