MLive – by Molly YoungFLINT, MI — A retired Flint police sergeant is accused of using his position as a police officer to have sex with children while on duty.
Lawrence B. Woods, 66, was arraigned Friday morning in Flint’s District Court on 16 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from incidents that authorities claim occurred from 1996 until 1999 while Woods was a sergeant with the Flint Police Department.
Woods told a judge at his arraignment Friday, Sept. 5, that he understood the charges but did not make any other statements. Attorney Frank Manley is representing Woods.
“We understand the allegations are very serious. Obviously, we are in the initial portion of our investigation, but we expect to have a successful outcome,” Manley said.
Woods is held without bond in the Genesee County Jail.
Investigators believe some of the alleged assaults occurred while Woods was on duty, Sgt. Karl Petrich with the Flint Police Department said at a news conference Friday afternoon, Sept. 5.
“There were incidents inside the police department and out on the street in police vehicles and on city property,” he said.
Police raided four homes Thursday, Sept. 4, where they believed Woods lives or has stayed and found what Petrich called a “large amount” of child pornography.
“These victims were photographed, we believe, by him in his apartment and at a local hotel room,” he said.
There were hundreds of photographs of who police believe to be minors, said Petrich.
So far, two women have come forward to claim that Woods sexually assaulted them when they were underage but Petrich said police are looking for more potential victims.
Each count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony that carries a minimum of 25 years in prison and up to a life sentence, according to Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
“It’s a life offense. If he’s convicted, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years,” Leyton said. “It’s a very serious crime.”
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell was also at the news conference, and commended the Flint Police Department for taking the case seriously.
“The Flint Police Department investigated one of their own with no stone unturned, which tells the public out there that no one is above the law,” Pickell said.
Woods joined the Flint Police Department in 1975 and earned an appreciation plaque in 1986 from the River Village Residents Association for his role in capturing several burglary suspects as a part-time security guard. Flint officials said he retired from the department but did know the date he left.
A preliminary examination in court is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/09/former_flint_police_sergeant_f.html