Former superintendent arrested in child molestation investigation

Reported by: Mario Boone

ArkLaTex / NBC 6

October 6, 2009

Former Leary ISD superintendent Franklin Wray was arrested by Bowie Sheriff's investigators Tuesday morning. Wray faces indecency with a child charges after two teen boys came forward to their church pastor.  Wray recently worked as music minister for Pleasant Oaks Baptist Church.  Pastor Bobby White talked to NBC 6 out of concern there could be other alleged victims.  He says the allegations have upset everyone in the church.  Sheriff's department chief deputy Larry Parker tells NBC 6 the statute of limitations prevented investigators from pursuing more charges against Wray.  The investigation is ongoing.  Meanwhile, relatives of the victims are considering asking the feds to investigate since there is no statute of limitations.

http://arklatexhomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=77521

http://arklatexhomepage.com/content/school_information (first sentence of article & photo)

See also:

Community reacts to former superintendent's arrest, 10/7/09 (stating that Wray was a former music minister at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and that he also pastored several churches in northeast Texas).

Preacher faces indecency charge, Texarkana Gazette, 10/7/09

Former educator pleads guilty to sexual misconduct, Texarkana Gazette, 7/2/10 (stating that Wray pled guilty to 19 counts of sexual misconduct involving minor boy).

SNAP Note: On 10/6/09, ArkLaTex news reported that Franklin Wray was a music minister at Pleasant Oaks Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. It is a church that is shown here as being affiliated with the American Baptist Association. Subsequently, on 10/7/09, ArkLaTex news reported that Franklin Wray was a music minister at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, and that he had pastored several other churches in northeast Texas. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church is shown as being affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.