Past frat president sentenced to six-months in jail for molesting woman at frat house

Ryan Wray, 26, Utah State University student and member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, arrested on charges of molesting a female student.

LOGAN — A judge has rejected a sentencing proposal of 90-days in jail for Ryan C. Wray, a former president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, who pleaded guilty to molesting a woman at the fraternity house last spring. Instead, Judge Kevin Allen sentenced him to a minimum of six-months in jail and then completing a sex offender therapy program.

Judge Allen said sexual assault does more damage to the community than property crimes and was offended by the recommendation of 90-days. He told Wray he originally intended to sentence him to prison if it hadn’t been for defense attorney Shannon Demler, who told the court about Wray’s accomplishments in school and clean criminal history.

Wray was arrested in March 2014, after a woman reported being molested by him, while attending a party at the fraternity house, near Utah State University.

Wray reportedly would provide a safe room at the house for women who were intoxicated. At the time of the assault, the victim was in his care when he put his hand down her pants and molested her. The victim later told police she was inebriated at the time and did not consent to any sexual activity.

During the sentencing hearing Monday afternoon in 1st Distrcit Court, the victim told the court she never asked to be assaulted.

Wray kept his head bowed, holding onto a podium during the hearing. He shook his head “no” when asked if he wished to make a statement.

Demler said Wray had fully cooperated with investigators in the case but the stress after being arrested had made him attempt suicide.

Judge Allen expressed concern that Wray also had admitted to police that he assaulted three other women in a similar way. He said young people need to be able to live their lives without the threat of sexual assault, noting that the community needs to address sexual assault more.

Since his arrest, Wray was suspended from both the fraternity and the university.

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