Alcohol made former Coast military recruiter sexually abuse 14-year-old, he said in court

Gordon Phillip Gros, 34, of Diamondhead pleaded guilty this week to one count of touching a child for lustful purposes.

Gros entered his plea before Circuit Court Judge Christopher Schmidt at the Hancock County courthouse.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Daniel, who prosecuted the case, said Hancock County sheriff’s deputies started an investigation in December 2017 when the parent of a 14-year-old reported that the girl had been abused.

The teenager was examined and treated at Hancock County Medical Center and seen by a therapist, said a news release from the office of District Attorney Joel Smith.

Gros said at his plea hearing that he had been drinking and “made very bad choices.” He also apologized, the news release said.

Gros was a recruiter for the Mississippi National Guard when he was arrested, MSNG spokesperson Deidre D. Smith confirmed. He was immediately removed from his position, she said, and after his guilty plea he can be legally removed from the National Guard.

Schmidt ordered Gros taken into custody. Sentencing is set June 18 so a pre-sentence investigation can be completed.

This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 5:55 PM.