Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To 375 Months In Prison In Child Sexual Abuse Case (Photo) - 01/12/26

HILLSBORO, Ore- On December 5, 2025, a Washington County jury found Leo Gabonia, age 49, guilty of five sex abuse-related charges, including sodomy in the first degree, sexual penetration in the first degree, and sex abuse in the first degree. On December 18, 2025, Judge Janelle Wipper sentenced the defendant to 375 months in prison. Senior Deputy District Attorney Chris Lewman prosecuted this case.
 

The defendant was first convicted on these charges in 2019. The Oregon Court of Appeals ordered a retrial of this case.
 

Forest Grove Police first began investigating Mr. Gabonia in September of 2017 after the victim made disclosures of abuse to a family member. That family member then contacted police, who began the investigation.
 

The defendant was known to the family and used that connection to gain access to the victim. Police learned the abuse began two years prior to the disclosure, with inappropriate touching and kissing, and quickly escalated from there. Based on victim accounts and the expertise from staff at Randall Children's Hospital and CARES Northwest, police gathered enough evidence to move forward with charges against Mr. Gabonia.
 

The Washington County District Attorney's Office would like to acknowledge the work of the Forest Grove Police Department.