La Plata, MD – James Vincent Frank Bray, 36, was sentenced to 35 years in prison Thursday, Sept. 29 for sexually abusing two minor girls.
The Concordia, KS resident was sentenced on two of 10 counts for sexual abuse that began in October of 2008 and ended in October of 2010, although the state’s attorney’s office said it may have been longer.
The unnamed mother of the two children told the court she met Bray online in 2006 when he was living in New York. Later, he moved down to Charles County to live with the woman and her daughters.
The mother said Bray had “smooth words.
“He took on the role of daddy and we were impressed,” she stated. “But then James began to dominate every aspect of my life. I had to do as he said.”
Sex became more of a labor than a romantic thing, she said.
“As the years went on, he became more emotionally abusive and physically abusive,” she added. “He said he would burn the house down. He grew more violent.”
Bray moved out in August 2014. The mother said her daughters came to her in March 2015 and told her “what he’d done to them.
“I never thought he would harm the girls, but I was wrong,” she told the court.
Charles County Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah K. Freeman said that one of the children was forced to participate in anal intercourse.
“She will not only have emotional scars from this abuse, but physical pain.” Freeman explained. “She sustained a physical injury that will cause problems for the rest of her life.”
Bragunier sentenced Bray to 30 years for count one—sex abuse of a minor – continuing conduct—and another 20 years for count two, sex abuse of a minor – continuing conduct, suspending all but five years on the second count. His total consecutive sentence is 35 years in the Maryland Department of Corrections.
“I’m very sorry,” Bray told Bragunier. “I had a responsibility to those girls to protect them. I did everything I was supposed to do except protect them from myself.”
The judge gave him credit for 286 days of time served, ordered five years of supervised probation upon his release and told him he must register as a Tier 3 Sex Offender.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com