Johnson County man faces child sexual abuse charge involving child under 14
A Johnson County man, previously charged in an alleged DUI crash that injured a woman and resulted in the death of a teen who tried to help her, is now facing an unrelated charge of child sexual abuse, according to court documents.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office has charged 49-year-old Matthew Thomas Bray of Lenexa with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child for allegedly fondling or touching a child under the age of 14, according to court documents. The alleged crime occurred between October 1, 2024, and June 23, 2025.
Bray’s attorney, Paul Morrison, could not be immediately reached for comment.
A Johnson County Sheriff’s deputy arrested Bray on Monday, and he was booked into the Johnson County jail. Bray made his first court appearance on the charges on Wednesday and was released on Thursday on a $25,000 bond, according to court and jail records.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office charged Bray in August with one count of aggravated battery after he allegedly drove under the influence of alcohol and caused a crash that injured a woman on July 27, 2024. Bray was also charged with failing to stop and remain at the scene of a crash that caused serious injury to another person.
The crash happened just before 2 a.m. on southbound Interstate 35, just north of Johnson Drive in Merriam.
Benjamin “Ben” Van Buskirk and a close friend were headed home when they saw a Chevrolet Equinox disabled in the left lane of traffic after the crash. Van Buskirk made his friend stop.
As Van Buskirk got out and ran to help the driver, a Jeep Liberty hit the Equinox and then drifted across the road, striking Van Buskirk. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
