The Former Pastor, 81, Is Being Treated in Intensive Care
By Jeff Brumley
The Times-Union
November 3, 2007
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110307/geo_214566950.shtml
The child molestation trial of former Trinity Baptist Church pastor Robert Gray has been postponed because he is gravely ill.
Circuit Judge John Merrett ruled that Gray, 81, is too ill to participate in a trial that was set to begin Nov. 13.
"I personally observed [Gray] in intensive care," Merrett said in a court hearing Friday. "I find his incapacity is genuine and complete."
 |
Merrett scheduled a hearing for Dec. 12 to get an update on Gray's condition.
Gray has been hospitalized since Oct. 20, said his attorney, David Barksdale.
Gray faces six counts of capital sexual battery involving four women who say Gray sexually abused them when they were children in the 1970s. At the time, Gray led the Jacksonville church and its school, Trinity Christian Academy.
Gray originally faced four charges, but two were recently added as one of the victims recalled separate incidents of abuse, Assistant State Attorney Pam Hazel said.
Each charge carries a possible prison sentence of 25 years to life. Gray has pleaded not guilty to all charges, Barksdale said.
The attorney wouldn't speculate if Gray's medical condition would affect the outcome of the case.
Dropping charges or offering pleas isn't even on the radar at this point, Assistant State Attorney Julie Schlax said.
"Yes, he's an elderly man and in intensive care from the best that I know, but it's just too early to think we will not litigate this case to the fullest," she said.
Gray's illness is not expected to have an impact on civil lawsuits filed against Trinity Baptist by five of Gray's accusers.
That's because the lawsuits don't name Gray as a defendant, Trinity attorney Ed Trent said.
It's also because Gray was deposed by the plaintiffs' attorney in early October and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination, Trent said.
Gray was arrested in May 2006 and again the following July when accusations began surfacing. He had remained on house arrest on $25,003 bail. More than 20 accusers came forward, but only four have resulted in charges because the statute of limitations has expired.
Contact: jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4310
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.