Scott Ray McMurray

Sources

1. Veteran Ogden teacher sent to prison for sex abuse, Deseret News, July 15, 2013.
2. The Justice Files: Former school teacher seeks release from prison , ABC4, September 24, 2020.
3. source 3, , March 21, 2026.

• 1. Veteran Ogden teacher sent to prison for sex abuse

  • 20130715
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  • Deseret News

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  OGDEN — A veteran Ogden schoolteacher has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing two 13-year-old boys.

  Scott Ray McMurray, 58, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison by 2nd District Judge Ernie Jones. McMurray pleaded guilty to 11 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and three counts of attempted sodomy on a child, first-degree felonies, in June.

  Jones sentenced McMurray to 15 years to life in prison on all 14 of the counts but ordered that all the sexual abuse counts run concurrent with each other and that the attempted sodomy counts also run concurrent with each other. But he ordered that the concurrent sexual abuse counts run consecutive to the concurrent attempted sodomy counts.

• 2. The Justice Files: Former school teacher seeks release from prison

  • 20200924
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  • ABC4

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  SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Utah) – He claimed to be helping not hurting.

  It was Scott McMurray’s attempt to justify the sex abuse he committed on his victims.

  The former elementary teacher explained his actions during a recent parole hearing.
  McMurray is serving up to thirty years in prison for multiple counts of sex abuse and sodomy towards his four young victims. After seven years in prison, he became eligible for parole.
  The Justice Files: Second chance at justice

  “From 2008 to 2013 you groomed, lured, and sexually masturbated four boys,” said his hearing officer at the outset of his parole hearing.

  None of his victims were students. He was a veteran teacher at Heritage Elementary in Ogden. But the hearing officer said he was known by the school to make lewd comments. He was fired after charges were filed.

  “I really wasn’t trying to hurt anybody,” McMurray told the hearing officer. “I was trying to help, I thought. But obviously, I was flawed in my thinking and I know that now. And I changed my life in that regard.”

  McMurray was finally arrested and charged with multiple counts of sex abuse and sodomy after one of his victims came forward. But it wasn’t until the victim turned 19-years old and was serving an LDS church mission that he revealed his secret to a church leader. The victim appeared at McMurray’s parole hearing to oppose his release.
  The Justice Files: Brutal murder sends suspect to prison

  “We’re here to see if Scott is really a different person,” said the young man. “I do not think he should be able to get out. I think he should serve his entire sentence. What he did to my family and me is unforgivable. I mean he was part of the church.”

  At the time of his crime, he admitted that his sense of denial allowed him to continue molesting his victims. But he said the past seven years in prison has given him an understanding of the pain he caused.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize at the time that I was causing that much trouble and people want me to be here for the rest of my life. I don’t understand that.”

  McMurray said at the time he was having medical issues. He told the hearing officer he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2012. He said he underwent surgery to remove the cancer but was taking medication and became depressed and attempted suicide.
  The Justice Files: A waiting game

  But the hearing officer reminded him that he was sexually molesting his young victims, years before his bout with cancer.

  “I do not think he will ever be this man that he says he is,” said his victim. “I think he should stay in there for the rest of his life.”

  The hearing officer didn’t give McMurray much hope that he would soon be released. He has not undergone sex offender treatment. In addition, the hearing officer said McMurray has not served the minimum amount of time recommended by the sentencing judge.

  She said the board of pardons uses that as a guideline to determine if a person should remain in prison or be set free.
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  SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT - OGDEN DISTRICT COURT
  WEBER COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
  STATE OF UTAH vs. SCOTT RAY MCMURRAY
  CASE NUMBER 131900116 State Felony
  CHARGES
  Charge 1 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 2 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 3 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 4 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 5 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 6 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 7 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 8 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  05-08-2025 02:51 PM Page 1 of 10
  Charge 9 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 10 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 11 - 76-5-404.1(4) - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st DegreeFelony (amended to) - 1st Degree Felony
  Offense Date: January 10, 2013
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 12 - 76-5-403.1 - ATTEMPTED - SODOMY ON A CHILD - 1st Degree Felony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 13 - 76-5-403.1 - ATTEMPTED - SODOMY ON A CHILD - 1st Degree Felony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Charge 14 - 76-5-403.1 - ATTEMPTED - SODOMY ON A CHILD - 1st Degree Felony
  Offense Date: January 01, 2012
  Plea: June 05, 2013 Guilty
  Disposition: June 05, 2013 Guilty

  SENTENCE PRISON
  05-08-2025 02:51 PM Page 8 of
  CASE NUMBER: 131900116 State Felony10
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of AGGRAVATED SEXUALABUSE OF A CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant issentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteenyears and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of ATTEMPTED SODOMY ONA CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced toan indeterminate term of not less than fifteen years and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of ATTEMPTED SODOMY ONA CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced toan indeterminate term of not less than fifteen years and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  Based on the defendant's conviction of ATTEMPTED SODOMY ONA CHILD a 1st Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than fifteen years and which may be life in the Utah State Prison.
  COMMITMENT is to begin immediately. The court will accept payment tendered on the date of sentencing for any amount the defendant owes arising from this order. The court hereby transfers responsibility for collection of any remaining balance of the criminal accounts receivable to the Office of State Debt Collection.
  To the WEBER County Sheriff: The defendant is remanded to your custody for transportation to the Utah State Prison where the defendant will be confined.
  SENTENCE PRISON CONCURRENT/CONSECUTIVE NOTE
  The sentences for counts 1 thru 11 shall run concurrently.The sentences for counts 12 - 14 shall run concurrently with each other, however, the sentences on counts 12-14shall run consecutively to the sentences imposed on counts1 thru 11.