Man who worked in East St. Louis after-school program accused of soliciting child
A man who previously served in East St. Louis after-school programs has been charged in Clinton County with four felony counts alleging he planned to sexually abuse a person he believed was a child.
Chad D. Gray Jr., 22, of East St. Louis, was charged Monday with traveling to meet a child, grooming, indecent solicitation of a child and solicitation to meet a child. All are Class 4 felonies except traveling to meet a child, a Class 3 felony.
Charging documents allege Gray used an electronic device to communicate June 19-20 with a person he believed was a child, intending to sexually abuse the individual or engage in other unlawful sexual conduct. He is accused of trying to meet the person at a bakery in New Baden.
Gray previously taught financial literacy in East St. Louis after-school programs as a staff member at Go! International, a local nonprofit that partners with the school district, the district said in a news release Wednesday.
The district does not believe any District 189 students are victims in this case, the release said.
Through Go! International’s partnership with the district, Gray worked once a week in after-school programs at Mason-Clark Middle School and Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence — and occasionally at Dr. Katie Harper Wright Elementary School — from Feb. 26, 2024, through May 2025, according to the release.
Gray also worked through Go! International at Officer Elementary School’s after-school program during June 2025 and from Sept. 5, 2025, through Feb. 5, 2026, the post said.
Go! International CEO Seth Hamilton confirmed Gray was a part-time staff member. Hamilton said Gray also mentored students at the Alternative Education Center in Belleville as part of an initiative through the nonprofit and the St. Clair County Regional Office of Education.
Hamilton said Gray was never left alone with students while working in school settings, as Go! International policy requires at least two adults present during program activities.
The district’s post said administrators at Officer Elementary also noted Gray was in areas with surveillance cameras.
Gray passed all background checks required by both the schools and Go! International, including the most recent one conducted in February before his work with the regional office, the district’s news release and Hamilton said.
Go! International recently fired Gray because of the allegations and notified all relevant partners, Hamilton said.
“We take our kids’ safety very seriously with our programs. … It’s a terrifying situation,” Hamilton said.
The district is investigating Gray’s involvement with the schools, the release said. It asked that questions, concerns or additional information be directed to Chief Human Resource Officer Valencia Martin-Hawkins at valencia.martin@estl189.com or 618-646-3003, or to Chief of Schools Keisa Garrett at keisa.garrett@estl189.com or 618-646-3014.
The district also directed concerned individuals to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ child abuse hotline at 1-800-252-2873.
A judge granted prosecutors’ petition to deny Gray pretrial release Monday, court records show. As of Wednesday, Gray was in custody at the Clinton County Jail.
Court records show Gray may intend to hire private counsel but was represented Monday by Public Defender Stewart Freeman. Freeman’s office could not be immediately reached for comment.