Arkansas Teacher Confesses to Sexual Assault of 15-Year-Old Boy Met at Church, Previously Praised by Bill Clinton

A former teacher in Arkansas has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager she met while volunteering at a church that was once attended by former President Bill Clinton. This shocking case has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about the safety of youth in community programs.

Reagan Gray, who was 23 at the time of the incidents, began her inappropriate relationship with the 15-year-old boy in 2020. They met at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, where Gray was involved with the student ministry. It’s a well-known church in the area, and the connection to Clinton adds a layer of notoriety to the case.

According to court documents, the boy reported that Gray had performed oral sex on him, but he claimed they didn’t have intercourse because he wanted to “stay pure.” This detail highlights the complex dynamics at play, as the victim was clearly navigating his own beliefs and boundaries amidst the abuse.

Initially, Gray faced charges of sexual assault in both the first and fourth degrees after her arrest last year. However, she ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of sexual assault in the second degree. On Monday, she was sentenced to six years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Additionally, she is required to submit a DNA sample and will be placed on the sex offender registry, which is a significant consequence of her actions.

As part of her sentencing, Gray is also prohibited from having any contact with the victim. Following the revelations, she was dismissed from her position at Sylvan Hills Middle School. The victim’s parents discovered explicit text messages, including nude photos, exchanged between their son and Gray in 2020. They reported their findings to the church’s then-head pastor, Steven Smith.

Pastor Smith confronted Gray about the messages, but she insisted that the relationship was not “physical.” Despite this, she was removed from the student ministry and was required to attend counseling, which she agreed to. However, it wasn’t long before she was back involved with the church youth group, raising questions about the church’s oversight.

In February 2024, federal authorities began investigating after learning that Gray had continued to communicate with the teen through Snapchat. The alleged abuse reportedly occurred nearly a dozen times, often in Gray’s car or apartment, according to the victim’s statements to police. The fallout from this case has been significant, leading to Pastor Smith’s resignation last year amid the controversy.