Ray Montgomery, a civil rights advocate and former senior pastor of Second Baptist Church of Martinez in California, has been found guilty of misdemeanor domestic violence following an attack on a former girlfriend at his home two years ago.
Montgomery, 59, who is also the former executive director of the social justice nonprofit People Acting in Community Together, was found guilty by a jury last Thursday following a trial, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
He was found guilty despite filing a defamation lawsuit against the now 44-year-old woman, identified by KTVU as Darcie Green, executive director of health nonprofit Latinas Contra Cancer. She told police he strangled her in his home in 2024.
“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.”
In statements to authorities, Green claimed that while she was visiting Montgomery on the night of June 6, 2024, he picked her up and dragged her down a hallway at his home. When she told him to stop, he refused and began pressing her neck between his forearm and bicep until she felt like she would pass out.
When he eventually released her, the Green said she collapsed on the floor as Montgomery stood over her. She later locked herself in a bathroom and called a friend for help. The following day, Green went to Stanford Hospital.
Nearly five months later, on Nov. 26, 2024, she reported the assault to the San Jose Police Department.
Montgomery responded by suing the victim for defamation in 2025, alleging that her allegations forced him to resign from his job at PACT in December 2024.
In the defamation lawsuit cited by KTVU, Montgomery said he had a years-long relationship with Green until mid-2024. He alleged that a verbal argument with Green at his home forced him to ask her to leave. He said a witness can testify that Green repeatedly ignored requests to leave his home.
“At no point did (Montgomery) use excessive force, physically restrain Defendant Green in any unlawful manner, place his hands or arms around Defendant Green’s neck, or engage in any conduct that could be construed as assaultive or as a ‘choking,'” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff’s actions were strictly necessary to lawfully remove a trespassing Defendant from his home while maintaining a non-confrontational and safe environment.”
Montgomery also named Latinas Contra Cancer as a defendant in his defamation lawsuit, alleging that Green was allowed to use her role at the organization to defame him, causing unspecified damages.
“Defendant Latinas Contra Cancer (LCC) failed to supervise Defendant Green and negligently allowed her to misuse her professional position and organizational resources, such as communication platforms and her executive title, to disseminate false statements,” the lawsuit states.
“Plaintiff seeks an amount sufficient to compensate him for his lost earnings, lost business relationships, and the damage to his reputation, as well as an amount sufficient to punish Defendant Green and deter future misconduct of this nature.”
Court records show that Green was accused in 2018 of using her vehicle to assault her then-husband, Rick Alexander. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office declined to press charges against Green because Alexander had a record of domestic abuse.
The lawsuit remains pending. Montgomery is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 8.
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