UPDATE (Jan. 24, 2023): Ian Gray was found guilty of one count of child molesting after a bench trial. A second child molestation count was dismissed. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 17, 2023.
FISHERS, Ind.– A former math teacher for the Hamilton Southeastern School district was arrested Thursday on child molesting charges.
Ian Gray, 38, faces charges of child molest, child seduction and sexual misconduct with a minor.
According to court documents, the juvenile victim said Gray touched her inappropriately during the 2017-2018 school year when she was in 6th grade at Fall Creek Intermediate School. A psychologist determined the victim was sexually assaulted approximately ten times.
The victim said Gray started by touching her thigh, but later went on to touch her breasts and genitals. The juvenile said this started happening once per week. He was able to be with her and cover the door window of a small group room during active shooter training, according to court documents.
The victim’s mother said the girl began self-harming and noticed several changes in her behavior, stating that the “shift was drastic” and her daughter had trouble progressing mentally and emotionally.
The girl’s mother said Gray would tell other students that her daughter was a bad influence and they should not be friends with her.
Court documents state there are no discipline records for that school year.
Gray was hired by HSE on Aug. 13, 2007 as a sixth-grade teacher and transferred from Fall Creek Intermediate to Riverside Junior High School on Aug. 6, 2018. Gray was also a coach for track and math bowl.
When police spoke to the then-principal of Fall Creek Intermediate, he said he had retired and had no notes from that school year. He said the victim’s parents called him about an issue with Gray but he did not suspect any abuse. The school counselor told police he remembered the victim not wanting to go to Gray’s class because “he was too hard on her.”
Hamilton Southeastern Schools said Friday that Gray resigned on July 22 after being placed on administrative leave on April 22. The following statement was issued:
“We are aware that a former school employee has been charged with alleged misconduct with a minor student. We have cooperated fully with the Fishers Police Department since its investigation began, and will continue to do so in coordination with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. When the investigation commenced, we placed the school employee on administrative leave, per district policy. The employee has since resigned.
“We believe strongly in protecting the safety and well-being of our students and that includes working with authorities to investigate allegations of wrongdoing that arise involving any student.
“To preserve the integrity of the investigation and protect the privacy of the victim, it is our district’s practice to refrain from publicly discussing this matter. We will continue to support law enforcement and anyone who has been affected by these alleged events.”
