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South Bay jiu-jitsu Instructor Denies Abusing 14-year-old After Admitting To A Friend

South Bay jiu-jitsu Instructor Denies Abusing 14-year-old After Admitting To A Friend

Gabriel Abel Gonzalez, 39, is the latest jiu jitsu instructor to be accused of unseemly behavior with an underaged person.

Gonzalez, a jiu-jitsu teacher in Chula Vista, was arrested Saturday morning by National City police officers.

Elias Gallegos was Gonzalez’s boss at Alliance Eastlake and the Chula Vista Jiu-Jitsu Club, which he owns. Gallegos told nbc news
When Gallegos confronted Gonzalez about the accusations:

“He took a big deep breath and he looked at me and said ‘Let me explain,'” Gallegos said. “For me that was it. And he admitted he did what he was accused of.”

Gallegos went on to say that Gonzalez told him “drugs made him do it.”

“He could have been talking about steroids or street drugs,” Gallegos added.

NCPD officials say the crimes Gonzalez is accused of took place at his home and not at either gym.

“At no time was Gabe ever alone with a student while working,” Gallegos said. “The gyms are structured so that the instructor is on the mat and never is he alone with the students and the parents are around the mat watching.”

Gallegos said he held a parent meeting at one of the gyms and let them all know exactly what happened.

“They’re all my kids. Every single one that comes through that academy. They’re my kid,” Gallegos said behind tears. “I’ve known [Gonzalez] 15 years. The victim is one of my best friend’s kids. I’m just numb. I want to wake up from this bad dream, brother.”

He pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four felony counts of committing a lewd act on a child under 14.