The mother of teen who claimed she was raped by the Claiborne County Sheriff wants her side to be heard.
After a pre-trial diversion hearing on Wednesday, a judge ruled Sheriff David Ray's record could be wiped clean of any wrong doing, if he stays out of trouble for the next two years.
The victim's mother released a statement to Ten New on Thursday.
In it, the mother says quote, "I just don't understand how people can sleep at night knowing what they have done to destroy lives. David Ray violated my daughter's youth by rape as well as her young life with lies, slander and malicious tactics. The guidelines the Sheriff has agreed to abide by show he is guilty whether he states it or not. "
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The Claiborne County Sheriff has the chance to clear his record.
The man who at one time sat on the bench as a judge on Wednesday stood in front of it.
Sheriff David Ray's reputation has been on the line since rape allegations first surfaced two years ago.
Wednesday in Hancock County Criminal Court, two charges were dismissed without prejudice.
"It's my understanding the alleged victim in the case requested this and requested the District Attorney General's Office to do this,"Judge John F. Dugger Jr., told the court.
Those two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure could be brought back at any time within the statute of limitations.
Sheriff Ray received pretrial diversion, which is basically probation, on two other counts.
The judge asked, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor?" "No sir," answeredRay.
Wednesday's developments are a chance for the sheriff to keep his record clean.
As long as he stays out of trouble for the next two years, a statutory rape charge and a statutory rape by an authority figure charge will completely disappear from his record.
"You are not being found guilty of anything today. You are not pleading guilty to anything today," said Judge Dugger Jr.
In court papers, Sheriff Ray does not dispute accompanying the victim and her grandfather on a deer hunting trip in November of 2005 and 2006, but he does deny having sexual contact with her.
The judge said, "Your agreement with the state is that you will serve 250 hours of community service."
"Yes sir," answered Sheriff Ray.
Hamblen County will serve as the site of that community service because ofSheriff Ray'sposition.
A restraining order also means the Sheriff is to have no contact with the victim.
Meanwhile, a gag order remains in effect.
"This case could still be a trial if for some reason the diversion is terminated so we don't need to talk about the case," the judge said.
The alleged victim, who is now 19, has also filed a civil suit against the Sheriff.
With Photojournalist Brian Holt
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If Claiborne County Sheriff David Ray manages to avoid legal trouble for the next few years, his record could be cleared of all signs he was accused of the statutory rape of a Campbell County teen.
Ray appeared in Hancock County court Wednesday, for a pretrial diversion hearing.
Ray was accused of the statutory rape of the teen granddaughter of a man he with whom he was hunting in Hancock County, in separate incidents alleged to have occurred in 2005 and 2006.
Counts 1 and 2 against Ray, charging him with sexual battery by an authority figure, have been dismissed outright but without prejudice. That means the charges could be brought back anytime within the four year statute of limitations.
Due to the lingering possibility of charges and a subsequent trial, all attorneys in the case are subject to a gag order.
Two counts of statutory rape, one from each alleged incident, are both subject to a pre-trial diversion. If Ray avoids legal troubles for the next two years, those charges will be wiped from his record.
Rayis also subject to supervised probation during that time period. Because he serves as Claiborne County Sheriff, he will report to Hamblen County for that probation.
He must also perform 250 hours of community service in Hamblen County and pay court costs from the proceedings against him.
There is also a restraining order against Ray, ordering him to stay away from the alleged victim.
