Arkansas teacher, 26, is charged with sexually assaulting 15-year-old 'she groomed at church and then bombarded with nude photos every day'

A teacher and children's volunteer at one of Arkansas' largest churches, accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy, told police she wouldn't go beyond oral sex to keep him 'pure.'

Reagan Gray, 26, sent naked pictures 'daily' to the boy after initiating the abuse in fall 2020 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, once frequented by ex-President Bill Clinton.

The church referred her for counseling after the boy's parents found text messages hinting at the affair on their son's phone. However, she was reinstated within weeks and resumed the abuse.

The two met in her car and her Monticello apartment until May 2021. The boy couldn't recall if he responded to her requests for naked images but admitted, 'I don't have a clear memory of doing that but, given how often she asked, it probably happened.'

Officials at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock warned her off the relationship but she allegedly resumed it after returning from counselling, demanding he send her nude images

Officials at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock warned her off the relationship but she allegedly resumed it after returning from counselling, demanding he send her nude image

Gray, teaching at Little Rock Christian Academy, met her alleged victim at the church, where he also participated in the student ministry.

The student told investigators that Gray got his number from the group chat for the church's music program.

When the boy's parents confronted Gray and informed head pastor Steven Smith about the text messages, Smith suspended her from the student ministry despite her denial of any sexual relationship with the boy.

The police were not notified, and the church assigned Gray an 'accountability partner'—Smith's wife, Ashley. However, a police affidavit alleges Gray resumed the abuse after counseling, using Snapchat to communicate with the boy.

During a counseling session with Smith in September of last year, Gray admitted the relationship was 'sexual' and continued after her suspension.

The boy told detectives that the pair went no further than oral sex so he could 'stay pure

Police were alerted, and the boy told FBI investigators they had relations between five and 10 times in fall 2020. He mentioned that Gray performed oral sex on him, avoiding intercourse 'to keep (him) pure.'

By then, she had started teaching at Sylvan Hills Middle School but was suspended in February after the Pulaski County Special School District learned of the investigation.

Gray faces a felony charge of sexually assaulting a teenager between September 2020 and May 2021 and was released on $20,000 bail after surrendering to Little Rock police.

ray has been released on $20,000 bail and has denied one felony count of sexual assault

Her lawyer, John Ogles, stated she denied the charge and expected to clear her name, expressing trust in the judicial system.

Smith resigned earlier this month, causing distress among worshippers at the 128-year-old church, which usually sees nearly 1,000 attendees

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The church in Little Rock is one of the biggest in Arkansas and has boasted former president Bill Clinton among its congregation

Interim executive pastor Mark Carter said Gray's arrest had been reported to the church's new 'Caring Well Team' to assess the situation and determine the next steps.

'We are saddened by this situation, concerned for the affected young man, and praying for everyone involved,' he wrote.