Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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According to Sgt. Les Rickard of the Thomasville Police Department, Ray consulted a local attorney who then contacted Thomasville detectives Monday morning. In the afternoon, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police called Thomasville police and indicated Ray was in custody, Rickard said. At about 5:30 p.m., Rickard and Detective Brad Saintsing made the hour drive to pick up the former TCS employee.
“He called in to [Charlotte police] and said I’m here at a motel or hotel in the city,” Rickard said. “They came down there to the hotel and confirmed his identity, placed him into custody and contacted us.”
The Browning Drive resident was placed in Davidson County Jail under a $50,000 bond, but has since posted bail at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, said Davidson County Sheriff David Grice five minutes after Ray was released.
On Jan. 29, formal charges were filed against Ray by the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office. Rickard said Thomasville police then conducted a lengthy investigation, which is still ongoing. Part of the investigation is to determine if Ray is the father of a baby with the alleged victim, Rickard said.
According to criminal records obtained from the Davidson County Courthouse, Ray was convicted in 1984 of misdemeanor assault on a female, and in 1986 he was charged on assault with a deadly weapon with intent to inflict serious injury. His sentence was probation. In addition to a criminal record that involves communicating threats, Ray was charged and convicted for assault on a female in 1982.
Despite knowing some details about his criminal background, school officials gave him another chance. He had been employed by the school system since August 2001, serving as an attendance counselor for all four city schools and formerly coached girl’s basketball at Thomasville Middle School. After conducting an investigation of its own, the Board of Education moved to dismiss Ray at its January monthly meeting.
Searching for Ray in a quite a few avenues, Thomasville police were glad he turned himself in.
“We had a lot of information which covered a lot of different areas, in-and-out of the state,” Rickard said. “Our investigation led to other places outside of North Carolina ... I think what it all comes down to is either he knew, or learned about the charges and turned himself in.”
Ray is scheduled to appear in Davidson County District Court in Thomasville on Feb. 29. He could potentially receive up to 28 months in prison if convicted.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.