Goshen Local Schools board president resigned on Sunday after a “deeply disturbing” video was posted online, according to Goshen Local Schools Superintendent Darrell Edwards. Monday, police searched his home for evidence in a case involving him out of Indiana. According to Edwards, a video was posted to YouTube on Saturday evening showing the school board president, John Gray, being handcuffed by law enforcement.Edwards said the content of the video is deeply disturbing to the entire school district and Goshen Local School community.The video was posted by a volunteer group called Predator Catchers Inc. The more than hour long video shows Gray admitting to messaging a girl younger than 12, buying her gummy bears and saying they could “cuddle on the couch.” The video shows the group confronting Gray about the messages and phone calls and other disturbing allegations involving what Gray was planning to do with the child.The confrontation took place in Randolph County, Indiana. On Sunday, Goshen police confirmed that they were at Gray’s house and he was taken to the hospital for a psych evaluation. Police were back at his house Monday conducting a search warrant “based on a criminal investigation which was initiated in Randolph County, Indiana.””When you have a public video like this you might see all kinds of fallout,” said former prosecutor Jason Phillabaum. He is now an attorney with Yonas and Phillabaum and previously served as a prosecutor for eleven years.”The prosecutors in Indiana, maybe even some police agencies in Goshen are taking a very strong look at him. Was there a complaint made years ago that wasn’t fully developed or investigated? What’s on his phone? What’s on his computer?” he said. “Indiana can charge him. And I think what was interesting is he was arrested that night but then they let him go because I think they’re trying to determine what do we do here. If it were a police officer, no question. Police officers are trained on how not to entrap someone.” Phillabaum said vigilante groups can complicate prosecution and can make it easier for defense attorneys to claim entrapment. As of Monday night, Gray has not been criminally charged in Indiana or Ohio. He was serving his fifth term with the school at the time of his resignation.The incident had occurred outside of the Goshen Local School district and district leaders will be consulting with legal counsel and when more information becomes available, the district will communicate it to families immediately. Edwards said there is no other information about the incident at this time and it is an ongoing investigation.
Goshen Local Schools board president resigned on Sunday after a “deeply disturbing” video was posted online, according to Goshen Local Schools Superintendent Darrell Edwards.
Monday, police searched his home for evidence in a case involving him out of Indiana.
According to Edwards, a video was posted to YouTube on Saturday evening showing the school board president, John Gray, being handcuffed by law enforcement.
Edwards said the content of the video is deeply disturbing to the entire school district and Goshen Local School community.
The video was posted by a volunteer group called Predator Catchers Inc.
The more than hour long video shows Gray admitting to messaging a girl younger than 12, buying her gummy bears and saying they could “cuddle on the couch.” The video shows the group confronting Gray about the messages and phone calls and other disturbing allegations involving what Gray was planning to do with the child.
The confrontation took place in Randolph County, Indiana.
On Sunday, Goshen police confirmed that they were at Gray’s house and he was taken to the hospital for a psych evaluation. Police were back at his house Monday conducting a search warrant “based on a criminal investigation which was initiated in Randolph County, Indiana.”
“When you have a public video like this you might see all kinds of fallout,” said former prosecutor Jason Phillabaum. He is now an attorney with Yonas and Phillabaum and previously served as a prosecutor for eleven years.
“The prosecutors in Indiana, maybe even some police agencies in Goshen are taking a very strong look at him. Was there a complaint made years ago that wasn’t fully developed or investigated? What’s on his phone? What’s on his computer?” he said. “Indiana can charge him. And I think what was interesting is he was arrested that night but then they let him go because I think they’re trying to determine what do we do here. If it were a police officer, no question. Police officers are trained on how not to entrap someone.”
Phillabaum said vigilante groups can complicate prosecution and can make it easier for defense attorneys to claim entrapment.
As of Monday night, Gray has not been criminally charged in Indiana or Ohio.
He was serving his fifth term with the school at the time of his resignation.
The incident had occurred outside of the Goshen Local School district and district leaders will be consulting with legal counsel and when more information becomes available, the district will communicate it to families immediately.
Edwards said there is no other information about the incident at this time and it is an ongoing investigation.
