Church Pastor Behind Bars, Accused Of Abusing Boy
CRANDALL (CBSDFW.COM) - A former associate pastor of a church in Crandall, southeast of Dallas, is behind bars accused of indecency with a child.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit in the case, Steven Forest Gray, 67, assaulted the child at his home in the Pecan Lake Mobile Home Park. But, he befriended his then 11-year-old victim at the Lord's House of Prayer Church.
"It's devastating," says Pastor Doug Meshell. "In situations like this, there are no true winners." Pastor Meshell took over the church in June. He says Gray left the congregation several years ago — and we now know why.
According to the arrest warrant, the victim, now 16, made an initial outcry several years ago. That outcry led to a meeting with the church's pastor at the time, Frank Reyna, Gray and the victim's mother. The child at the time insisted that the contact was limited to touch outside of his clothing, so the matter was "dismissed", until earlier this summer.
The warrant goes on to say that the victim saw his accused attacker at a funeral in July and he gave him a glance that the victim described to investigators as a "smirk" that rekindled memories of the attack. He made a second outcry to friends who encouraged him to contact police.
"Whether the man is guilty or not, both sides are hurting," says Pastor Meshell, "and the families are suffering."
And neighbors are shocked.
"I never thought this was going to happen," says Abigail Martinez, "especially here in this community."
Martinez says kids roam freely throughout the mobile home community — and she's troubled that a neighbor has been accused of indecency with a child. "Really. I was shocked… I was shocked."
Meanwhile, Pastor Meshell says they will wait for the wheels of justice to turn… while also turning to a higher power.
"We're going to have a prayer vigil tonight for both families at 7 o'clock" says Pastor Meshell. "It's not just the two that's actually involved in the allegations, the families are suffering. We're reaching out, we're going to show our love and support and help them in any way we can."
A second child has also come forward accusing Gray of assault. Detectives are encouraging parents to talk to their children and ask open ended questions if they've spent any time with him alone.
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