ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 19, 1993                   TAG: 9303190162
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CAROLYN CLICK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


DEFENSE PAINTS GRAY AS VICTIM

EMBATTLED DR. WILLIAM GRAY is back before the state Board of Medicine in an effort to discredit his accusers and turn back efforts to permanently end his practice of medicine.\ A former male prostitute portrayed Dr. William Gray Thursday as the victim of an elaborate blackmail scheme devised by a group of young men who concocted stories of seduction and high-powered drugs to get back at the former child psychiatrist.

In graphic testimony that detailed the seamy underbelly of the city's night life, Paul Holt III dismissed Gray's accusers as sexually promiscuous liars who took advantage of Gray's hospitality and kindness in hopes of extorting $35,000.

Except for one, "All these people we are talking about here . . . are convicted felons," Holt told a State Board of Medicine hearing officer.

Gray, who agreed in January to surrender his license in exchange for avoiding criminal charges stemming from the sex-and-drug allegations of five young men, claims the Board of Medicine has no jurisdiction over him now that he has formally surrendered his license.

But the board disagrees, saying the formal revocation proceeding is necessary to ensure that Gray will be barred from ever practicing medicine in other states. Gray claims he is innocent and signed the plea agreement in Franklin County only to avoid a lengthy trial on charges of forcible sodomy.

In its hearing, the board may allege violations that do not necessarily mirror those handled in the criminal arena, said board spokesman Wayne Farrar.

Holt, who gained notoriety earlier this year for his bid to overturn the city's anti-solicitation ordinance, said he had had consensual sex with several of Gray's alleged victims, and dismissed them as liars who were willing to destroy Gray's reputation. He told the hearing officer one of Gray's accusers, remorseful over his actions, went so far as to tell him, "I've destroyed a man's life for nothing."

The five alleged victims told a different story when they testified before the board in June, detailing how Gray had preyed on them for sexual favors and then bought them off with prescription drugs and the use of apartments, a lake house and a mountain cabin.

Holt, who described himself as a "former prostitute, plain and simple," said he was now unemployed and living off the charity of friends. He described himself as an "associate" of Gray's and said the doctor often gave him rides around the city and stopped by his apartment for visits.

Holt was the first of four defense witnesses to appear on the first day of the reconvened administrative hearing, all intent on discrediting Gray's accusers.

"Trashy, scum," said Allen Anderson, 21, of Salem, who, like Holt and witness David Wright, recounted an argument he overheard in a Roanoke bar that focused on the alleged framing of Gray.

John Grad, one of Gray's lawyers, said he expects to call 70 to 100 witnesses who will testify that the Roanoke doctor is the victim rather than the seducer.

Patrick County Commonwealth's Attorney Anthony Giorno, who is serving as hearing officer in the case, said testimony is likely to extend through next week. He then will present his findings to the Board of Medicine, which will likely make a decision on Gray's license in June.

Earlier in the hearing, Gray's attorney attempted to bar identification of some of the witnesses, claiming they would be subject to retribution in the city's homosexual community if their names were published or their faces broadcast in the news.

Some would be unwilling to testify, Grad said, which could, in turn, have a "chilling effect" on Gray's right to a fair hearing.

But Stan Barnhill, a lawyer representing the Roanoke Times & World-News, argued against such closure.

"There is no legitimate basis for excluding the press under this `chilling effect,' " Barnhill said. "There is no more chilling effect that will take place in this administrative hearing than any other criminal hearing on any day in the United States."

Early in the hearing, Giorno turned back Grad's arguments that the Board of Medicine no longer had any jurisdiction in the case.

Fifteen years ago, Gray avoided prosecution in California on child molestation charges by agreeing not to practice there for three years.



by Archana Subramaniam by CNB