Former Housing Authority Employee Found Guilty of Sexual Battery

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Mitchell Leonard Ray Sr., of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of Sexual Battery. Ray now faces a maximum of 30 years in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Angela M. Cox on Feb. 11, 2019.

In 2016, Ray was an employee of the Jacksonville Housing Authority who used his position to coerce the victim to have sexual relations with him. Ray threatened the victim with eviction if she did not comply with his demands. Unbeknownst to the listed victim, Ray was engaging in similar behavior with a different victim who also lived in JHA housing. These victims were complete strangers to each other, but they provided similar testimony at trial. Both victims feared that if they disclosed Ray’s sexual assault they would be evicted.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Catherine Frances Waugh and Tonya Patterson-Barge.