Convicted child molester denied bond

A convicted child molester being held on child pornography charges has been denied bond reduction for a second time as Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley refused to drop the $100,000 bond.
The defendant, Otis Odell Wood, 33, has been behind bars since his arrest in November charged with multiple counts of exploitation of a minor. Lawmen arrested him after a scan of his computer by forensic experts allegedly uncovered several child porn files, a search which Wood’s defense maintains was illegal because officers took advantage of his borderline mental retardation in searching his trailer last year.
The discovery of the alleged illegal porn was made more than three months after lawmen seized Wood’s home computer during a visit to his home after complaints were made by nearby residents that Wood had been seen in the company of children despite being a convicted and confessed child molester. There is no law to prevent a convicted child molester from being with children as long as they have completed their sentence.
Wood served nine years of a 12-year sentence for having sexual relations with a 12-year-old boy and was released last year after flattening his sentence. It was during the time of his original arrest back in 1996 that Wood confessed to having sex with as many as 20 children before he was caught. Wood is mentally challenged but was found competent enough to face the charges against him. Lawmen said Wood drove an ice cream truck years ago which he used to help lure his victims.
Once released last year, lawmen feared Wood was using an old police car bought at auction to lure new potential victims. He was charged with lying to police about the identity of a young boy found in his company last summer but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence. Wood publicly condemned authorities for harassing him, saying he had paid his debt to society and deserved to be left in peace, denying he was targeting children or intending a repeat of his illegal sexual crimes.
Wood had earlier asked for relief from General Sessions Judge Larry Ross concerning the seizure of his computer and his bond. However, Ross refused to strike down the search or lower his bond. Judge Stanley followed suit on the bond question and will decide the admissibility of the search at a later date.
As for Wood’s mental issues, the court will review the extensive mental health record of the defendant before ordering a full battery of mental tests which have been requested by the defense. Wood faces eight to 12 years in prison if convicted on the child porn charges.