Former Youth Minister to Appear in Oconee Superior Court

A former youth minister has pleaded guilty to charges of statutory rape, child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Brian Richard Gray, 33, of Winder reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in Barrow County last week to serve 15 years in prison and 10 years probation.

Charges stemmed from allegations that Gray, a former youth minister at Monroe Church of Christ, had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old Oconee County girl who attended the church.

Deborah Wilbanks, assistant district attorney for Barrow County, said the plea agreement was discussed with the victim and her family members.

“We thought it was a fair sentence given the victim’s agreement with the sentence,” Wilbanks said.  

Under the plea agreement, Gray is to have no contact with the victim and, as restitution, must reimburse the victim or her parents for up to $10,000 in attorneys’ fees.

Gray will also pay a $5,000 fine and is required to register as a sex offender.

He was indicted on 58 charges by a Barrow County grand jury in February after being indicted by an Oconee County grand jury in December on seven charges related to the same relationship with the minor.

Oconee authorities arrested Gray at a family member's home in Alabama in November 2010. The alleged encounters are reported to have taken place in the girl's family's Oconee County home while her parents were away.

Gray is set to appear in Oconee County Superior Court at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 16, before Chief Judge Lawton Stephens, Oconee County Clerk of Superior Court Angela Watson confirmed.