A Wellston man facing a felony charge of lewd acts to a child under 16, has pleaded innocent to the charges.
The alleged offense reportedly occurred nearly five years ago.
Formal charges of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 were filed on April 2, 2024 in Lincoln County District Court against Thomas M. Woods, 46.
He was previously bound over to stand trial at the conclusion of his preliminary hearing.
During his arraignment recently before District Judge John Canavan, Woods pleaded innocent. The judge received the plea and the cause was set for the felony disposition docket on Sep. 30. A motion seeking bond reduction was set for 9 a.m. Sep. 3.
Woods’ bond is currently $100,000. He made his initial appearance on April 4 before Special Judge Emily Mueller who has set his bond at $100,000.
The alleged crime reportedly occurred between July 27 and 28, 2019 in Lincoln County. The victim was 14 years old at the time, the information states and according to a probable cause affidavit the victim is now 17.
The affidavit states the incident took place at Bell Cow Lake the weekend of July 27-28, 2019.