Commonwealth v. Steven Anthony Ray; 82 Years in Prison for Repeated Sexual Abuse of Children

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth's Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Steven Anthony Ray, age 32, was sentenced today for charges of Rape - Victim Under Age 13 (2 counts), Forcible Sodomy - Victim Under Age 13 (2 counts), and Production of Child Pornography (4 counts). Circuit Court Judge Les L. Lilley sentenced Ray to serve 82 years in prison. This was significantly greater than the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines' recommendation which called for a high-end of 34 years to serve.

Ray pled guilty on January 11, 2022. Had this matter gone to trial, the Commonwealth's evidence would have proven that between September 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, Steven Anthony Ray frequently sexually abused four (4) children known to him. The children were all able to provide detailed accounts of the abuse inflicted upon them by Ray. Ray took photos of the children nude and of the sexual acts he forced upon them. Thousands of images of child pornography, to include hundreds of photos of Ray abusing the victims, were found on Ray's phone in a hidden folder when it was analyzed by police. In an interview with police, Ray denied the abuse and provided a false passcode to his phone.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys Charles A. Rice and Megan M. Lang prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.

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