Post by gpduke on Jul 20, 2007 23:14:23 GMT -4
LAURENS, S.C. -- Police announced the arrest of a man who they said molested several children as far back as 1999, and possibly earlier -- and they think there may be other victims.
Laurens Police Chief Robin Morse and Laurens County Sheriff Ricky Chastain held a press conference Friday morning to announce the arrest of Willie Alfred Ray Jr., 31, on multiple charges of lewd act on a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Officers said that Ray, who also goes by the nickname Spanky, was arrested on July 6 after the mother of an 11-year-old boy contacted Laurens police.
The woman who said that she caught Ray with her son said she had met Ray and church and they were dating.
"I thought his intention was to be a loving, church-going, God-fearing man, but that's now what it was," she said.
Their relationship ended on July 5 when she found him fully-clothed in bed with her naked son.
"When I turned the corner to go into the room, he was laying there in the bed with my son."
She said she pursued her suspicions about what was going on.
"My mind told me to check him over. After that, I found some lotion, lubricant, in the buttocks area," she said.
That's when she called police.
At the time of the arrest, police said that Ray was out of bond on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Greenville.[/size]
Investigators said that they have since learned of four other victims besides the 11-year-old and the minor in Greenville. There are two alleged victims in Laurens County and two in the city of Laurens.
Police said that the alleged victims range from 5 to 13 years old and they are both male and female. Investigators said that Ray is accused of molestations starting in 1999, and possibly as far back as 1995.
Investigators said that the alleged victims are either children of Ray's past girlfriends or members of Evidence of Faith Church, the church Ray attended in Laurens County.
Police said that they expect to file another charge against Ray later today relating to one of these past cases. They said that they also believe there could be other victims.
Chastain said, "We just want to make sure that we can find those victims if they are out there so we can prosecute him, as well as possibly get help for those victims from the long-term trauma that they may be dealing with at this point."
The mother who called police had a message for children who may have known Ray over the years: "You need to talk to your parents if you ever came in contact with Mr. Willie Ray," she said.
And to parents she said, "Parents … if you know that your child was around this man, ask questions: 'Did he touch you? Did he do this? Did he do that?' If not, that's another victim that's going to be swept up under the rug."
Investigators are asking anyone who has come in contact with Ray to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call Laurens police at 864-984-3532 or the Laurens Sheriff's Office at 864-984-4967.
Chastain said, "We believe there may be more cases extending outside the city and the county here -- maybe into other counties. Any help would be appreciated in letting us hopefully find these victims if there are out there."
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"criminal sexual conduct with a minor" send him to jail...for life. I don't mind if my taxes for the rest of my life aid in paying for his lifeless soul to be locked up. See, if he wasn't out of jail, these 5 lives (and maybe more as they're saying) wouldn't have been ruined by this devil. Maybe if we weren't smacking sex offenders on the wrist and then letting them go then it would change a few perverts minds. If not, they won't harm anyone after that.
Laurens Police Chief Robin Morse and Laurens County Sheriff Ricky Chastain held a press conference Friday morning to announce the arrest of Willie Alfred Ray Jr., 31, on multiple charges of lewd act on a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Officers said that Ray, who also goes by the nickname Spanky, was arrested on July 6 after the mother of an 11-year-old boy contacted Laurens police.
The woman who said that she caught Ray with her son said she had met Ray and church and they were dating.
"I thought his intention was to be a loving, church-going, God-fearing man, but that's now what it was," she said.
Their relationship ended on July 5 when she found him fully-clothed in bed with her naked son.
"When I turned the corner to go into the room, he was laying there in the bed with my son."
She said she pursued her suspicions about what was going on.
"My mind told me to check him over. After that, I found some lotion, lubricant, in the buttocks area," she said.
That's when she called police.
At the time of the arrest, police said that Ray was out of bond on charges of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Greenville.[/size]
Investigators said that they have since learned of four other victims besides the 11-year-old and the minor in Greenville. There are two alleged victims in Laurens County and two in the city of Laurens.
Police said that the alleged victims range from 5 to 13 years old and they are both male and female. Investigators said that Ray is accused of molestations starting in 1999, and possibly as far back as 1995.
Investigators said that the alleged victims are either children of Ray's past girlfriends or members of Evidence of Faith Church, the church Ray attended in Laurens County.
Police said that they expect to file another charge against Ray later today relating to one of these past cases. They said that they also believe there could be other victims.
Chastain said, "We just want to make sure that we can find those victims if they are out there so we can prosecute him, as well as possibly get help for those victims from the long-term trauma that they may be dealing with at this point."
The mother who called police had a message for children who may have known Ray over the years: "You need to talk to your parents if you ever came in contact with Mr. Willie Ray," she said.
And to parents she said, "Parents … if you know that your child was around this man, ask questions: 'Did he touch you? Did he do this? Did he do that?' If not, that's another victim that's going to be swept up under the rug."
Investigators are asking anyone who has come in contact with Ray to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call Laurens police at 864-984-3532 or the Laurens Sheriff's Office at 864-984-4967.
Chastain said, "We believe there may be more cases extending outside the city and the county here -- maybe into other counties. Any help would be appreciated in letting us hopefully find these victims if there are out there."
-----
"criminal sexual conduct with a minor" send him to jail...for life. I don't mind if my taxes for the rest of my life aid in paying for his lifeless soul to be locked up. See, if he wasn't out of jail, these 5 lives (and maybe more as they're saying) wouldn't have been ruined by this devil. Maybe if we weren't smacking sex offenders on the wrist and then letting them go then it would change a few perverts minds. If not, they won't harm anyone after that.