Wake Forest man faces decade-old child-rape charges

A Wake Forest man was being held on $1.5 million bail Thursday after turning himself in to face charges from police that he raped a young girl in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Joel Brian Gray, 42, of 2108 Katesbridge Lane Road surrendered at the Wake County Detention Center on Wednesday morning.

Three arrest warrants charged Gray with first-degree rape involving a child that began in 2003 and went through 2005.

The girl was 8 years old at the time police said the first incident occurred, a spokesman said.

Police said the charges involved a girl Gray knew.

Gray made his first court appearance Thursday. His bail was lowered, and he was released from jail.

It is not unusual for sex-crime charges to be brought well after the alleged events happened. Police spokesmen say that both minor and adult sexual-assault victims frequently are unable to come forward for some time after they are victimized.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 11:40 AM with the headline "Wake Forest man faces decade-old child-rape charges."