Etowah County, AL – Gabe David Kittle, 71, of Peach Tree Road in Boaz, appeared before Judge Cody Robinson last week for sentencing on four counts of possession of obscene materials involving a child less than 17 years of age.
According to court records, Kittle was arrested after the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force regarding potential child sexual abuse materials being uploaded using an account linked to Kittle’s email address and telephone number. Authorities said that information was used to obtain subpoenas for records and to secure and execute search warrants for Kittle’s residence, email accounts, and electronic devices.
Investigators reported that searches led to the discovery of multiple images of child sexual abuse materials saved on Kittle’s phone, resulting in his arrest.
Kittle pleaded guilty to the charges on Oct. 3, 2025, with no plea agreement reached between the parties. During sentencing, the defense requested that any sentence imposed be diverted to a community-based supervision program, such as community corrections or probation, citing Kittle’s age, lack of prior criminal history, and current health conditions.
Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith, who prosecuted the case, told the court that sentencing in criminal cases must consider the specific facts and circumstances of each offense. In cases involving possession of child sexual abuse materials, she noted that factors such as the number and nature of images are important. Investigator Brandi Fuller of the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office testified that the materials found in Kittle’s possession included images and videos depicting young children involved in acts of bestiality. Griffith argued that the nature of the materials warranted a term of imprisonment in the state penitentiary.
Judge Robinson sentenced Kittle to 10 years on each count of the indictment. The sentences were split to require Kittle to serve three years in the state penitentiary, followed by five years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and all associated court costs.
As a condition of probation following his incarceration, Kittle will be prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 years of age and from possessing or using smartphones, the internet, or social media.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Robinson addressed the defendant, stating, “Mr. Kittle, by entering your plea of guilty, you have accepted responsibility for the crimes you committed. However, that does not absolve you of the damage caused by the crimes you committed.” He continued, “I’m afraid a lot of people think these types of crimes are victimless, however, I could not disagree more. The minors depicted in these images will have to live with their existence for the rest of their lives. These images don’t just go away.”
Robinson added that viewing such materials contributes to the continued exploitation of children and stated that protecting children is “our most sacred obligation as a legal system.” He said the sentence was intended to demonstrate that those who exploit and victimize children in Etowah County will be punished to the fullest extent allowed by law.
District Attorney Jody Willoughby expressed appreciation to the court for the sentence imposed. He stated that the number of cases involving possession, dissemination, and production of child sexual abuse materials has increased significantly in the county in recent years and that his office remains committed to prosecuting such cases and seeking maximum sentences for those convicted.
