OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – Caleb Fischer Ray, 27, was booked Thursday into the Marion County Jail on charges of lewd and lascivious battery and unlawful sexual activity with a minor, according to the Ocala Police Department (OPD). He later posted a $150,000 bond and was released.
Police said Ray, identified as a youth pastor at Connection Church in Ocala, is accused of sexual acts with a child who was between 13 and 17 years old at the time. An arrest report states the alleged victim first met Ray at church when the child was nine and later reported the allegations to law enforcement last month. According to OPD, Ray was previously a youth leader at another church in Lake City, Florida.
Detectives cited phone records showing repeated contact between Ray and the teen, police said.
Ocala police asked anyone who had inappropriate interactions with Ray to contact Detective Bessette at 352-369-7000.
Connection Church officials said Ray is no longer in a leadership role, was never an ordained minister, and was not a paid employee. Ray has not entered a plea in court records reviewed Friday. A court date is scheduled for Oct. 20.
On its website, Connection Church says it holds Sunday services at the Marion Theatre in downtown Ocala.
This is a developing story.