Christopher Wayne Gray, 28, the former Mira Costa High School instructional assistant arrested in October for sexual misconduct with a student, was sentenced to three years in state prison on one felony count of lewd act upon a child on Jan. 5, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
While it was an unlawful relationship, it was consensual, said Gray’s attorney, Jennifer Wirsching, adding that the student considered Gray her boyfriend at the time of the relationship. “The young lady never said that he forced her,” Wirsching said. “Of course the law doesn’t recognize consent under the age of 18.”
At the time of the arrest, Manhattan Beach Police Department Officer Stephanie Martin emphasized the unlawful nature of the relationship.
“A minor cannot give consent,” Martin said.
Wirsching said the student is not getting counseling and doesn’t feel any animosity toward Gray, according to reports she’s read.
After his arrest, Gray was honest and forthcoming, accepting full responsibility for his actions. “He understands he was the adult in the situation,” she said. “He never once said, ‘I didn’t do anything.’”
Gray was originally charged with nine counts of lewd act upon a child under the age of 14. Eight counts were dismissed at sentencing, under the terms of a negotiated settlement.
In November of 2010, Gray was hired to work for Manhattan Beach Unified School District at Manhattan Beach Middle School. He started at Mira Costa last fall as an instructional assistant, where he worked with special education students. The unlawful relationship was not with a special education student.
Gray is married and has a two-year-old son. Wirsching said the couple was in a rough period financially and emotionally during the affair. “He made, obviously, very poor decisions and now he realizes the gravity of those decisions,” she said.
Wirsching hadn’t been in contact with Gray’s wife. “She was not supportive of him during this incident, which is not surprising,” Wirsching said.
Out of all the consequences, Gray is the most heartbroken that for the next three years, his two-year-old son will be without a father. During his sentencing, his eyes were teary and red, Wirsching said. “He was trying to be strong,” she said, adding, “But he was very upset and emotional.”
Gray comes from a tight-knit, loving family, Wirsching said, adding that his grandparents flew out from the Midwest for each court appearance. “He was a very stand up guy,” Wirsching said. “He made mistakes.”
For the rest of his life, Gray will be a registered sex offender and will be unable to live near or work at schools. “This is something that’s changed his life forever,” Wirsching said.
