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Bryce Stephen Ray was a Mormon church member who allegedly perpetrated a sex crime (solicitation of a minor) in Salt Lake County, Utah.
FLOODLIT has obtained information that Ray may have held LDS church leadership positions.
We’ve also obtained court documents in Ray’s case, thank to your donations.
According to Ray’s LinkedIn profile, he was a BSA scout leader from 2008 to 2014.
If you know anything about Ray’s history in the LDS church, please contact FLOODLIT or make an anonymous report.
Facts
- Criminal: Ongoing, Police investigation,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader, Sunday school,
- During alleged crime: Unknown position,
- When accused: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2020s, in Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: Public,
- Victims: 1 victim,
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Born: 1975
- Mission: unknown
- Locations: Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah, Weber County (Utah),
Sources
- excerpt from police probable cause statement,
- Man offered to pay teen for sex in Sandy, where he was confronted by 20 teens, police say,
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1. excerpt from police probable cause statement
[Note: portions redacted by FLOODLIT; warning, contains graphic/disturbing content]
[O]n or about July 9, 2024, in Salt Lake County, [a police officer] was dispatched to a call regarding a group of teenagers planning to go to a local mall to confront a male about messaging a minor and arranging to meet up with her.
[...] [W]hile patrolling the mall, [another police officer] encountered a group of approximately 20 teenagers yelling at an older male, later identified as BRYCE STEPHEN RAY, calling him a pedophile.
The statement of 15-year-old [Jane Doe] that she had been contacted on social media by RAY. [Doe] informed RAY that she was a minor and RAY asked, “How much money would I have to give you to [perform a sex act]?” RAY told [Doe] he would bring $700 when they met. RAY stated, “If this works out, I’ll give you $350, and I can cash app you more”.
Search incident to arrest, police located a check in RAY’s possession for $360.
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2. Man offered to pay teen for sex in Sandy, where he was confronted by 20 teens, police say
SANDY — A Weber County man who police say traveled to Sandy where he thought he was going to pay a teenage girl for sex was arrested after he was confronted by about 20 other teenagers after he arrived.
Bryce Stephen Ray, 49, of West Haven, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with enticing a minor and sexual solicitation of a child, second-degree felonies.
On Monday, Sandy police say Ray communicated with a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat and later offered the girl money in exchange for sex so she could buy clothes. He said he would give the girl about $350 in cash and use a cash app to send $350 more, according to charging documents.
The girl told Ray she was a minor. However, police say they agreed to meet at the Shops at South Town, 10450 S.State.
"Bryce did not provide his real name. He used a Snapchat screen name. Bryce, however provided a picture of himself prior to the meeting," a police booking affidavit states.
Sandy police say they were notified Tuesday of a fight happening at the mall and arrived to find "a group of approximately 20 teenagers yelling at an older male, later identified as Bryce Stephen Ray, calling him a pedophile," according to the charges.
As officers were arresting Ray, they found $360 in his pocket, the charges state.
Prosecutors have requested Ray be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail pending trial.
Documents
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Criminal case documents
FLOODLIT has a copy of a related probable cause affidavit, but it is not currently available for download. Please check back soon or contact us to request an copy.Civil case documents
We do not know of any related civil cases, so no related civil case documents exist. If you have information that suggests otherwise, please contact us.