Band director accused of sexually assaulting student appears in court

Duncan Gray, the West Charlotte High band director accused of sexually assaulting a student, told court officials on Tuesday that he didn't want a court-appointed attorney to represent him.

Gray, 58, made his first appearance in Mecklenburg Court on Tuesday, two days after being arrested and charged with two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He’s suspended from West Charlotte High with pay.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report says the alleged crimes happened at West Charlotte High School near Beatties Ford Road between August 2010 and June 2014. The alleged victim was 13 years old when at least one of the reported crimes occurred, according to police documents. Police said the boy was a West Charlotte student and a member of the school’s band at the time.

On Tuesday afternoon, Gray, who is free on $50,000 bail, showed up at court by himself. He and four other men who declined a public defender each placed a hand on a Bible and acknowledged that they understood they were giving up their right to a court-appointed attorney.

Gray left the administrative courtroom around 1:45 p.m. and declined to answer reporters’ questions.

CMPD investigators were notified early last week by detectives from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Police Department that a sexual assault occurred at the school.

The alleged victim told authorities that he was assaulted in the school several years ago when he was a student and a member of the school’s band, CMPD said in a statement on Monday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said Gray was placed on administrative leave from March 10 until March 28 in 2011. The school district did not list a reason.

Based on the student’s account and information gathered, detectives obtained two warrants for Gray’s arrest.

Police have asked anyone with information about the alleged crimes or other ones to come forward, but CMPD has not announced other charges or said whether Gray is suspected in other incidents.

Investigators asked anyone who was victimized or has information about the case to call 704-336-2795 and speak directly with Detective Sobol.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 6:22 PM with the headline "Band director accused of sexually assaulting student appears in court."