Story Category: Crime and Punishment »

On April 5, 2012 detectives from the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations initiated an investigation regarding alleged sex offenses involving a minor child.The female victim, now 18 years of age, reported to law enforcement officials in Texas she had been sexually assaulted multiple times over a period of several years by a relative, while residing in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The victim was 8 years old at the time the incidents began.

On April 18, 2012, following a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving BCI detectives, detectives from the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office in Texas and Anne Arundel County Police, suspect Byron B. Wood, age 47, of Mechanicsville, Maryland was located and arrested in Anne Arundel County.Wood was subsequently taken to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with 1 count of Second Degree Sex Offense and 1 count of Engaging in an Ongoing Course of Conduct over a Period of 90 days or more with a Victim under the Age of 14. Wood was later released by a District Court Commissioner on Personal Recognizance.

The SMCSO photo system is down. A photo of Mr. Wood will be posted later in the day.