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Former Pastor Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Charge

POSTED: Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Once one of Jacksonville's most respected church leaders pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge he molested a child decades ago.

Robert Gray's attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf to a charge of sexual battery of a boy at Trinity Baptist Church more than 30 years ago. He had previously pleaded not guilty three charges of sexual battery of young girls at the church years in the early 1980s.

Gray was pastor of Trinity for nearly 40 years, and also headed its primary school and college. He retired from Trinity in 1992, but remained active in revivals and Bible conferences across American and in Europe until his arrest in May.

Gray remains free on bond until his trial, which is set for the week of Nov. 27 -- a fact that offends supporters of the alleged victims.

"I think it's completely ridiculous," Sandy, one of Gray's accusers, said outside the courtroom. "I think that the bond has been set -- the $25,000 bond -- you can get that for a DUI, and I think that's absolutely unfair -- a spit in the face to the victims."

Sandy is just one several people who say they were victims of Gray's sexual advances decades ago when they were children.

Although he's only been charged with molesting four children --- three girls and one boy -- others have come forward to tell investigators they were assaulted, including Denise Green

"For me it's been healing to come out and be heard," Green said Tuesday. "Finally someone believes you and is listening."

Among the people at the arraignment to lend support to these woman are some former members of Trinity Baptist, including Pat Cassell, whose husband was a staff member at the church for 25 years. He left in 1997 as the first rumors about the molestation were being made.

"It's time for the cover up to be over and for there to be compassion and help given to these kids who were horribly molested -- many of them through the years," Pat Cassell said. "The Bible tells us, 'truth sets you free,' and this truth needs to be told. That needs to be uncovered not just for Bob Gray, but for the church as well."

"There's people that will never set foot in a church again," Sandy said. "There's people that's tried to commit suicide."

Gray had supporters, as well, and many have contacted Channel 4 saying that Gray could not have done want he is accused of and is innocent until proven guilty. Other than legal representation, none of those supporters were evident in the Courthouse Tuesday.

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