Grand Rapids Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty To Criminal Sexual Conduct
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 24-year-old correctional officer has pleaded guilty to charges accusing him of a series of alleged sexual assaults involving a 15-year-old girl at a juvenile correctional facility, the Itasca County Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
Devin Michael Wood, of Grand Rapids, Minn. specifically pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for the alleged assaults, which took place between April 10 and April 12 at the North Homes Juvenile Correctional Facility in Grand Rapids.
The plea agreement calls for Wood to receive a 100-month executed prison sentence, to register as a predatory offender, pay fines in the amount of $225, provide a DNA sample and be subject to lifetime conditional release.
According to the charges, the victim told authorities Wood made sexual advances towards her, which turned into sexual contact on several occasions in her cell. She said the two engaged in sexual intercourse and provided police with two notes Wood had written to her.
The notes contained graphic sexual content directed at the victim, according to the charges.
Wood was arrested on his way to work at North Homes. He initially denied any relationship with the victim, though eventually told investigators he went into her cell and gave her a hug, according to the complaint.
After more questioning, Wood admitted to kissing the victim and claimed she attempted to grab him inappropriately when he was in her cell but he denied her advances and left.
Wood was questioned about the notes written to the victim and initially denied any involvement but later changed his story and admitted to writing them, according to the charges. Still, he claimed he did not act on anything suggested in the notes.
Investigators say Wood was inconsistent in his statements and failed to make eye contact while answering questions. He was then booked into the Itasca County Jail.
Following Wood's guilty pleas, his bail was revoked and he was remanded to custody pending sentencing. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing on Oct. 27.
