Opening arguments were made today in the trial of accused rapist Thomas Bray.
Bray, a former instructor at Central Oregon Community College, has been accused of various sex crimes by two women, one of which was his student at COCC.
District Attorney Patrick Flaherty detailed for Judge Stephen Tiktin graphic accounts of events that occurred primarily in February 2011, when Bray engaged in sexual encounters with the two women.
Flaherty told the judge Bray used a combination of manipulation, blackmail and fear to coerce the women into having rough and dangerous sex with him that at times involved strangulation, slapping, spitting, name calling and what he said was forced oral, vaginal and anal sex.
He asked the judge to “hold the defendant accountable.”
Bray’s attorney, Stephen Houze, responded that the women were willing partners who chose to engage in these “nontraditional” sexual encounters with Bray.
Houze said one of the women accusing Bray of rape is motivated by potential financial gain. She has filed a civil suit against Bray, praying for $2 million in damages.
“She has 2 million motives,” he said.
Stay tuned to tsweekly.com for more as the trial continues.
This article appears in Jul 19-25, 2012.
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