News4Jax
November 5, 2007
http://www.news4jax.com/news/14516458/detail.html
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The declining health of a former pastor charged with sexually abusing children who attended his church years ago might keep the man from ever standing trial.
Days after Judge John Merrett said in court that 81-year-old Robert Gray was in very bad health and postponed the former Trinity Baptist Church pastor's criminal trial, the church's congregation was told Gray was taken off life support.
Gray founded Trinity Baptist Church on Jacksonville's Westside nearly 40 years ago and later founded the church's Christian school. He retired from Trinity in 1992. Prosecutors said the sexual abuse
that resulted in the charges occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.
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| Elderly Pastor Accused Of Molestation Taken Off Life Support |
Gray was slated to stand trial Nov. 12 on three counts of capital sexual battery, but after Merrett visited Gray in the hospital, the judge ruled the trial would be indefinitely postponed because Gray was incapacitated.
Laws regarding patient confidentially have barred the release of Gray's current condition. Gray's attorney said by phone they cannot comment about his client's health.
While Gray's criminal case has been postponed, there remain several civil suits against him and Trinity Baptist Church.
The suits allege Gray sexually assault several members when they were young and the church did nothing to stop it.
Adam Horowitz, the attorney representing several of the alleged victims, said Gray's health should not affect the trial.
"The civil lawsuits have been brought as negligence actions against Trinity Baptist Church, so whether he is available to testify at trial or not is unaffected as he is not a party," said attorney Adam Horowitz.
Channel 4 also talked to a woman, who asked to only be identified as Sandy, who said Gray assaulted her when she was a child. Sandy is not filing lawsuit but said the news about Gray's health had caused mixed emotions.
"I am grieving for his family. They are hurting. I am grieving for all the victims because they are not going to have their day in court," Sandy said.
She and others said closure would be important; and Horowitz said there would be a day in court even it Gray was not present.
"Bob Gray's depositions have already been taken. Should he pass, his testimony is preserved for purposes of our jury trial," Horowitz said.
The hearing for Gray's criminal case is set for Dec. 12.
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