Biloxi man going to prison for sexually assaulting high school student for years
A Biloxi man is headed to prison for 34 years after he admitted sexually assaulting a student from Biloxi High School for nearly two years.
Judge Christopher Schmidt sentenced Michael Ryan Gilbert, 37, to a total of 50 years and suspended all but 34 years for Gilbert to serve day-for-day in prison. He imposed the sentence after Gilbert pleaded guilty to sexual battery and child exploitation days before his trial was set to begin, according to the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office.
Biloxi police launched an investigation after the minor girl reported the crimes to the staff at Biloxi High School. The child, then 15, told school officials that Gilbert had a sexual encounter with her the day before.
“The victim reported the abuse to Biloxi High School staff the following morning and provided physical evidence to support the allegations,” Assistant District Attorney Mara Joffe said in a release.
Police linked Gilbert to the crime through a DNA analysis and other evidence, resulting in his arrest in August 2023. On his cellphone, authorities found sexually explicit photos of him and the victim and determined that Gilbert had been searching on the Internet for teen pornography. In addition, prosecutors said they found text messages that Gilbert sent to the minor student that showed “Gilbert’s sexual and emotional manipulation of the victim,” a press release said.
Joffe commended the victim for the “bravery and persistence” in reporting the crime and during the subsequent investigation, which Biloxi Police Investigator Caleigh Gillespie headed up.
Gilbert apologized to the court, his victim, and his family at his plea hearing.
“The courage it takes for a child to confront their abuser cannot be overstated,” District Attorney Crosby Parker said in a press release.
“This young individual has faced the fear and uncertainty of the justice system with remarkable strength, spending countless hours working with our office to prepare for trial — never once wavering. The sentence handed down to the defendant reflects the seriousness of his actions and aims to ensure he will never have the chance to harm again. We hope it also marks a meaningful step in the victim’s healing journey, which she so deeply deserves. We are grateful to the school officials and the Biloxi Police Department for their dedicated efforts in securing vital evidence.”
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 1:12 PM.
