Jurors began hearing testimony Monday in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court trial in Santa Maria of a former Santa Ynez Valley Union High School yearbook salesman charged with having inappropriate sexual encounters with underage boys.

Gregory Scott Ray, 57, of Buellton was arrested in April 2019, weeks after high school representatives contacted sheriff’s deputies when a teacher overheard a conversation involving the defendant and reported it to school administrators.

Under the most recent complaint, Ray has been charged with 38 criminal counts involving eight males referred to as John Doe 1 through John Doe 8. 

Specifically, the criminal complaint alleges 18 counts of lewd and lascivious acts, 12 counts of oral copulation of a person under age 18, along with several counts alleging sodomy involving people of varying ages and one count of sexual penetration of a person under 18. 

Detectives learned that Ray was using a social media app, Grindr, as a way to meet and have sexual contact with the young males, who reportedly ranged from 13 to 17 years old. 

While most of the inappropriate contact came through social media, at least one involved someone Ray met through his sons.

As part of his job, he traveled to many other counties within California while employed as an independent contractor and sales consultant for Friesens LLC, a yearbook publishing company.

Encounters occurred at Riverview Park in Buellton, Solvang Park, a construction site and Ray’s vehicle plus hotels in Anaheim and the Fresno area, according to the criminal complaint.

Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Bittner told jurors the case will come down to “laws, time and lies” by the defendant.

“I believe the evidence will compel you to see through the defendant’s lies to reach guilty verdicts on each and every count,” she added.

Defense attorney Michael Scott said they conceded some conduct, but not the criminal offenses. 

Ray had sex with most of the teenage males, but maintained they claimed they were at least 18 years old. 

Grindr members must confirm by checking the terms and conditions box that they’re at least 18 years old when creating accounts. 

Scott said jurors will hear raunchy text messages, classless bragging and more including about his client’s “poor judgment and perhaps loose morals.”

“But the evidence will show Mr. Ray is not guilty of most of the specific crimes charged,” Scott said.

The defense attorney said Ray will take the witness stand “to set the record straight” along with an expert who will talk about how the terms “rape,” “perv” and others don’t have derogatory definitions in some segments of the LGBTQ community.

Speaking softly, John Doe 2, the first witness to take the stand Monday morning, told about skipping school and meeting Ray at a Buellton park. In the park’s bathroom, the now adult testified bluntly about the explicit details of their sexual encounter. 

Bittner asked him if he recalled revealing his age to Ray. 

“I remember saying I wasn’t 18 and I was younger, and he said it was fine,” the witness said.

The trial before Judge Kristy Imel is expected to continue into May.

Ray has remained in the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail since his April 9, 2019, arrest in lieu of $500,000 bail.