The Rev. Ray Montgomery (YouTube).
A former leader of a civil rights group, a 59-year-old pastor from California, has been convicted of assaulting his girlfriend following an incident where she discovered his infidelity at his residence.
The Rev. Ray Montgomery, found guilty of misdemeanor assault, physically attacked his 44-year-old partner in an altercation that took place on June 6, 2024, in San Jose, as reported by the Santa Clara County district attorney.
According to details from the Mercury News, the girlfriend arrived unexpectedly at Montgomery’s residence and knocked. He appeared at the door dressed only in his underwear, while another woman was present inside.
This reportedly sparked an argument that turned physical. Montgomery picked the woman up, dragged her down the hallway and squeezed her neck between his forearm and bicep. The victim temporarily lost consciousness. Once she woke up, she ran away from Montgomery, locked herself in a bathroom and called a friend who picked her up.
She suffered bruising on her neck and went to a hospital, where she reported the assault to police. The woman also claimed Montgomery tried to intimidate her into dropping the complaint. She accused Montgomery of being abusive on other occasions.
Montgomery filed a lawsuit before he was charged, claiming the victim was the aggressor and he was trying to “defuse the situation,” the Mercury News reported. The pastor noted the woman came over to his home “uninvited” while he was “entertaining a female friend.”
The lawsuit was reportedly put on hold while the criminal case progressed.
Montgomery was the executive of the People Acting in Community Together civil rights organization that aids immigrants and low-income families. He stepped down from the post after the allegations.
“We believe domestic violence victims,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “Lawsuits and lying will never stop us from seeking justice for those who are hurt by their partners.”
Montgomery is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8.