PANAMA CITY — A sex offender whose release spawned tension between law enforcement and prosecutors has pleaded not guilty to charges he violated his probation, according to court documents.
Horace Monroe Wood, 45, was released the day he was supposed to go to trial at the end of October, although he was accused of sexual battery by four underage victims. The State Attorney’s Office cited conflicting accounts on part of the victims for not being able leverage a more strict punishment, but Wood pleaded no contest to one count of lewd and lascivious molestation and was sentenced to three years’ probation.
Following Wood’s release Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen criticized the handling of the case and lack of punishment, stating in a letter to State Attorney Glenn Hess that Wood had “not been held accountable.”
Days later, Wood was arrested for allegedly violating his probation by separating himself from his monitoring device. During his short-lived release, Wood complained of excessive monitoring from authorities.
McKeithen denied officers paid Wood special attention because of the nature of his release.
Wood appeared Friday in court and pleaded not guilty to violating his probation. He faces 15 years in prison if convicted of violating his probation.