Alleged minister pleads guilty to assault, theft

Before sentencing, he must be evaluated by a social worker.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A self-described minister has pleaded guilty to aggravated indecent assault and theft by deception.

David Gailbreath, 27, formerly of New Castle, appeared in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday and entered guilty pleas on two separate cases.

Gailbreath was arrested last November, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. According to the affidavit filed to support the charge, Gailbreath was accused of having sex with a juvenile female every other week beginning in January 2005. The girl was 13 at that time and 15 when she made the complaint.

The theft plea stems from charges filed last September against Gailbreath in relation to an amateur football team, The New Castle Knights, he attempted to start. The team became defunct last year when most of its members defected to the New Castle Thunder.

Gailbreath was accused of spending the team’s money on things other than team business, including his home mortgage and personal meals in restaurants.

Sentencing

Assistant District Attorney Kate Fee-Baird said she is recommending Gailbreath be sentenced to two to four years in state prison on the sexual assault charges followed by four years’ probation. In the theft case, she is recommending four years of probation and he be ordered to pay $1,539 in restitution.

No date has been set for sentencing because Gailbreath must be evaluated by a social worker to determine if he is a sexually violent predator who should be subject to Megan’s Law reporting, Fee-Baird said.

Gailbreath was set to go to trial Monday on the sexual assault charges, but he failed to show for court. Fee-Baird said an arrest warrant was issued. Gailbreath, however, did appear in court on Tuesday afternoon to enter his plea and said he had transportation problems the previous day.

Gailbreath, on his former Web site for the New Castle Knights, referred to himself as “Reverend David Gailbreath.”

The Universal Life Church Web site had his church listed as Knights of God Outreach Ministries, but gave no location.

cioffi@vindy.com