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Gray to be sentenced on Sept. 7



BRENTWOOD — A sentencing date has been set for ex-Salem Planning Board member Jeffrey Gray, convicted last month of sexually assaulting a woman he met on Craigslist.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers have not yet revealed what kind of prison term they will argue for on Sept. 7.

Gray faces up to 10 to 20 years on one of the charges, and up to an additional year on a simple assault conviction.

A jury convicted Gray, 50, on one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault and a misdemeanor count of simple assault after a weeklong trial in Rockingham County Superior Court. Gray was cleared of seven other charges, including felony kidnapping.

Probation officials are expected to weigh in on Gray’s recommended sentence and complete an evaluation.

Judge Marguerite Wageling ordered the pre-sentence investigation and revoked Gray’s $50,000 bail following the June 19 verdict.

The sexual assault happened at a home Gray was renting in Windham last March 8.

A 36-year-old Queens, N.Y., woman testified she was seven months pregnant when she placed an ad for a roommate on Craigslist, which drew an offer from Gray for her to come to New Hampshire and live rent free.

The woman took him up on the offer. She testified that Gray became angry with her after she found out he was much older than he claimed. Gray told the woman he was 38 during an online chat, according to court testimony.

Shortly afterward, he refused to let her leave, made her watch pornography and perform sexual acts with him. Gray testified in his own defense saying he was attracted to pregnant women and that any sex he had with the woman was consensual.

His defense lawyers argued that the woman fabricated the story after it became apparent that Gray was going to send her back to New York because their short-lived relationship was not going to work out.

Gray, who is being held without bail, is due back before a judge on Sept. 7.

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James A. Kimble may be reached at JKimble@newstote.com.




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