By Jerald Jimenez
Apr 29, 2024, 12:14 PM EDT
A high school teacher has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy while volunteering at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Initially, the parents of the victim, whose identity was not released, discovered several text messages between their son and the teacher identified as Reagan Gray, 26 years old. The abuses allegedly began in 2020, THV11 reported.
It was later discovered that Gray continued to communicate with the teen via Snapchat. The 15-year-old admitted to federal agents that Gray performed oral sex on him, but that they did not have full sexual intercourse.
The alleged abuse took place in Gray’s car or apartment, allegedly occurring about a dozen times. A church leader testified in an interview with the FBI that the woman confessed in a counseling session that there was sexual intercourse.
As a result of the handling of the accusations, the church leader resigned from his position in early April, although it has not been determined whether he alerted investigators about the irregular situation with Gray.
Meanwhile, the suspect, who works at Sylvan Hills High School, was placed on administrative leave last February because of the investigation. Following her arrest, she was formally charged with sexual assault, and has currently been released after posting $20,000 bail.
The church was reportedly frequented by former President Bill Clinton, whom he praised and acknowledged was instrumental in his preparation for the presidency, the New York Post reported.
“If it weren’t for this church… I think it would be virtually impossible for me to go to Washington next week as president,” Clinton told congregants, according to a Los Angeles Times report around the time of his accession to the White House. “And I am absolutely certain that I would be less prepared for the job.”
With information from THV11 / New York Post