by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
GULFPORT (GG) — On Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Leonard Michael Roberts of Gulfport, Mississippi, pled guilty to Sexual Battery and Exploitation of a Child. After accepting the plea, Circuit Court Judge Christopher Schmidt sentenced the defendant to a total of forty (40) years, with thirty (30) years to be served in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The case began when the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the LaFourche (LA) Parish Sheriff’s Office advising that a mentally defective 17 year-old-minor had given birth to a child at their local hospital. The minor had advised hospital staff and law enforcement that the defendant was the father of the child.
After receiving this information, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office scheduled the minor to have a forensic interview. During that interview, the minor disclosed that the acts took place on Smith Road in Harrison County. Based upon the minor’s statement in the forensic interview, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s DNA and for his residence.
“The defendant’s DNA was collected which showed a 99.99% probability that he was the father of the child. Additionally, the defendant’s cellular telephone was seized and examined by authorities, where videos and images of the minor were located resulting in the additional crime of exploitation of a child,” said Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burrell who prosecuted the case for the state.
After the plea hearing, Judge Schmidt told the defendant, “I can’t think of many things worse, short of homicide, than the crimes of which you’ve now entered your guilty plea.”
Due to the nature of crimes, the thirty (30) year sentence must be served day-for-day, without the benefit of parole or early release. Upon his release from custody, the defendant was placed on five (5) years of post-release supervision and must register as a sex offender.
“This case reflects some of the most serious violations of trust and human decency that we prosecute. Our office will continue to stand with victims and work closely with law enforcement to ensure those who prey on children are identified, prosecuted, and removed from our communities,” said District Attorney W. Crosby Parker.
