Charge against Wood dismissed

A registered child molester who was hit with criminal charges when he showed up at the jail with a 12-year-old boy in his car has beaten false report charges.

The suspect, Otis Odell Wood, 32, of Campaign, had the charge of filing a false report dismissed following a preliminary hearing before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross in which the court found no evidence to support the charge against Wood.

Wood was charged when he arrived at Warren County Jail to file a complaint. After his arrival there, lawmen recognized him as the same man who had been jailed for several years for molesting a 9-year-old boy, and also noticed he had a 12-year-old boy with him in the car. During questioning, Wood maintained the boy was related to him ‘ a claim lawmen disputed in bringing the false report misdemeanor against the convicted child molester.

However, during a recent hearing, evidence suggested there is some kinship between Wood and the boy, thereby making the false report charge invalid. Also bringing the charge into question is the ability of lawmen to even take such a warrant since there is no law which prevents Wood from going around, or being with, juveniles. A third cause for dismissal is the fact, not mentioned in the warrant, that a 19-year-old relative of the boy was also in the vehicle at the time.

Wood served his entire 12-year sentence, minus time off for good behavior, for having sexual relations with a 9-year-old boy in 1996. He also confessed to having sex with numerous children, both little boys and little girls, prior to his arrest.

Wood, who suffers from mental issues, often dressed up as a lawman and drove an ice cream truck. Of concern for lawmen now is the fact he is driving a used sheriff’s vehicle bought at auction, making them suspect he may pass himself off as an officer. Wood says if officers don’t want him to drive such a vehicle, they shouldn’t sell it at auction.

While failing to make the false report charges stick, lawmen say they are weary of Wood, given his vehicle and the reports of him being seen in neighborhoods where children are present. Wood maintains he has served his time and deserves to be left alone, noting he has taken off the police markings so his car will not appear so much like a police cruiser.

Law enforcement officials have contacted Warren County’s state legislators, hoping they will be able to bring a change in the law to make it a crime for convicted child molesters to go around children.