The Gazebo Gazette

BILOXI (GG) — On Monday, August 25, Michael Gillich III of Biloxi, Miss., was found guilty of Touching a Child for Lustful Purposes by a Harrison County Jury last week following a three-day trial with Circuit Court Judge Randi P. Mueller presiding. The jury deliberated for approximately three and a half hours before returning the verdict. 

In November 2022, the Biloxi Police Department investigated the complaint after they were notified by a New Orleans hospital about the crime. The investigation revealed that during Halloween 2022, while the 12-year-old child was visiting her mother, that the mother’s  boyfriend, the defendant (Gillich III), had sexually abused her.  

The Biloxi Police Department arranged for a forensic interview of the child at the Children’s Advocacy Center. During that interview, the child revealed that the defendant began sexually abusing at 7 years old, and this continued when she would be with her mother for  visitation and while the mother was at work. The investigation revealed when the child disclosed to a family member, the child was taken to a local hospital, and the crime was reported to the Biloxi Police Department.

The Jury heard testimony from the child, the family member to whom she disclosed, watched the child’s Forensic Interview, and heard from Investigator Lance Miller with the Biloxi Police Department. 

“The victim showed amazing courage in participating with the investigation and telling this Jury what her abuser did to her. She came into court, faced her abuser, and detailed all of the sexual abuse that Michael Gillich III subjected her to,” said Assistant District Attorney Billy Stage, who prosecuted the case with Meaghan Smith. 

“In many molestation cases, families are often reluctant to come forward initially and may struggle to remain throughout the prosecution process. Investigator Miller and the Biloxi Police  Department did outstanding work on this case. The Child Advocacy Center also played a vital role by conducting a child-first forensic interview to obtain critical information, and the victim displayed extraordinary courage in testifying. I’m proud of the strong partnerships and collaborative efforts of our Harrison County multidisciplinary team dedicated to investigating child abuse cases,” said  District Attorney W. Crosby Parker. 

Following the Jury’s verdict, the Defendant was taken into custody and sentencing was set for September 9, 2025.