CMPD: Skateboarding mentor arrested for alleged sexual assault of several children

CHARLOTTE — On Wednesday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced the arrest of a former professional skateboarder who is accused of using his role to sexually assault children, the department said.

Wayne “Ray” Goff was a prominent member of the skateboarding community in and around Charlotte in the 1990s and early 2000s, CMPD said. He had a large following of young people who looked up to him.

Investigators said he allegedly used his influence and role as a coach and mentor to sexually abuse children. His victims were young or teenaged boys and one girl, police said. All are now adults.

Police said they began their investigation back in February 2022 after they received an email from one of Goff’s victims, who was 13 at the time of his alleged assault.

According to police, the man, who is now a father, emailed police asking what can be done if he was sexually assaulted back in the 1990s by Goff. He said he came forward because his son wanted to learn to skateboard.

“The reason he came forward is because his son wanted to skate,” CMPD said. “As soon as his son said that, he didn’t not want to teach his son to skate and the emotions came up. He wanted to see if something could be done.”

Police said they arrested Goff for the first time on March 21. After that arrest, more of Goff’s victims came forward, and police arrested him again on Monday evening at his home in Mount Holly, authorities said.

Police said they announced Monday’s arrest in hopes more victims will come forward to report.

CMPD said it has been made aware of eight victims. None know each other, but all are members of the skateboarding community in Charlotte.

“I can’t imagine how many lives he affected,” said Patrick Carroll, the owner of ARMADA Skate Shop. “The older guys are supposed to be mentors to the kids.”

Carroll told Channel 9′s John Paul that he knew Goff, and said three of the alleged victims confided in him.

“I could just see the trauma in these guys. These guys are 20, 30 years old, almost 40,” he said. “Just came out to me and told me about it. From that point, it was just a domino effect.”

Investigators said Goff was arrested on 10 warrants of indecent liberties with a minor for events dating back to 1993. CMPD said the most recent case it is aware of was in 2010.

He’s currently being held in the Mecklenburg County jail, police said. He was transferred there from Gaston County, where he was held without bond.

“There is no case too old to investigate,” CMPD said on Twitter. “No matter how dated a case is #CMPD will always seek justice for crime victims.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a crime, please send an email to Misty.James@cmpd.org or call 704-432-3905.

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