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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Ray Reach, a musician and teacher who has been leading figure in Birmingham’s jazz scene for decades, has been convicted on several child pornography charges.
Reach, a pianist who has also led the jazz ensembles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham-Southern College, was found guilty on four counts of possession of child sex abuse material.
Reach, who has maintained his innocence in the case, was initially indicted and arrested on the charges in April 2018, but his trial did not begin until Tuesday. On Thursday, the jury convicted him.
The jazz instructor was arrested April 23, 2018 and charged with possession of obscene material involving a victim under the age of 17. At the time of his arrest, Reach was the director of jazz programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Reach is currently being held in the Jefferson County Jail and will be sentenced on July 8.