Santa Ynez Valley man sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing underage victims | Crimes and Courts

Judge Kristy Imel sentenced 57-year-old Gregory Scott Ray on Monday to 22 years and four months, followed by 50 years to life in state prison.

The fixed sentence of 22 years and 4 months reflects the crimes committed against six of the accused victims. Two other victims were sentenced to two additional indeterminate prison terms ranging from 25 years to life, according to prosecutors.

One of these victims met the defendant online at age 12 and was sexually assaulted in a park restroom at age 13. The last identified victim met the defendant during a high school yearbook conference organized by the defendant.

Ray was convicted of forcible anal intercourse with the 17-year-old victim.

Three survivors spoke at the sentencing, highlighting the impact the sexual abuse had on their lives. One of the survivors said he had “taken back his power” and would no longer allow Gregory Ray to haunt his dreams, according to a news release from Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Karapetian.

One of the survivor's mothers also spoke about the impact her son's victimization had on her entire family.

A jury in Santa Maria found the defendant guilty in June on numerous counts of sexual assault involving eight victims between 2007 and 2018.

Ray met several of his victims through his sons, who attended local schools in the Santa Ynez Valley. Some victims recalled Ray chaperoning their elementary school field trips, giving him access to young students.

Ray used his roles in the community, such as coaching Little League baseball and being an active member of the high school volleyball team, to meet and exploit underage boys. According to court findings, he also used his job as a yearbook distributor to gain further access to teenagers.

Ray also used same-sex dating apps like Grinder and Adam4Adam to meet underage boys. Some of the boys he met on these sites were as young as 12 years old.

Ray's crimes were uncovered after John Doe 1 confided in a friend, who then reported the misconduct to a high school principal, who in turn contacted the police.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch praised the bravery and courage of the victims who came forward and testified against Ray. Their strength in facing such challenges is commendable and serves as an inspiration, Karapetian said.

The prosecution expressed special thanks to the North County Rape Crisis Center and its director Ann McCarty for their tireless support of the victims throughout the process.

Biannet Garcia Vargas, victim advocate for the District Attorney's Office, provided assistance and support to the victims. Det. Jason Vasquez of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office showed extraordinary diligence in collecting evidence and ensuring a thorough investigation, according to the District Attorney's Office.