Former Youth Minister Who Pleaded Guilty to Child Molestation in Barrow Also Enters Guilty Plea in Oconee

A former youth minister pleaded guilty in Oconee County Superior Court on Thursday to charges of statutory rape, child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes.

Last week, with prosecutors in Barrow County in which he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years on probation for the crimes that took place here . 

Appearing before Chief Judge Lawton Stephens in Oconee on Thursday, Gray reached a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years of consecutive probation.

The charges stemmed from allegations of Gray’s sexual relationship with a 15-year old Oconee girl who attended Monroe Church of Christ, the church where he had served.

Some of the crimes took place at Gray’s home in Barrow County and some in the girl’s home in Oconee County, said Assistant District Attorney Kris Bolden.

Bolden said the agreement had been discussed and approved by the victim’s family.

Before sentencing, Judge Stephens told Gray, “You were put in a position of trust and you betrayed that. Now you will have a number of years in confinement to contemplate that.”

Gray will be required to register as a sex offender and will be supervised after his release from prison, Judge Stephens said.

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.

Gray is to serve both sentences concurrently.