Fremont man accused of sex crimes with minor in Ottawa County case
PORT CLINTON — A Fremont man who is facing multiple charges of having sexual contact with a minor is scheduled for an August jury trial in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.
Shannon Wood, 41, of Fremont pleaded not guilty Thursday to three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented performance, and two counts of importuning.
The unlawful sexual conduct with a minor charges are third-degree felonies, with the illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented performance second-degree felonies. The importuning charges are fifth-degree felonies.
An Ottawa County Sheriff's incident report detailed alleged encounters between Wood and a 15-year-old between June and August 2021.
Police were contacted by the minor's mother and the sheriff's office interviewed the child and parent in February.
The minor told police Wood had, through manipulation, allegedly pressured the minor for nude photos and sex on several occasions.
In April, Ottawa County detectives interviewed Wood at his Fremont residence and he denied that he had any sort of sexual relationship with the minor or had asked for nude photos, according to the incident report.
Police arrested Wood in Sandusky County last week and transported him to the Ottawa County Jail, where he was booked and remains in jail as of Monday.
Wood's jury trial is scheduled for Aug. 16 at 8:30 a.m. in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.
dacarson@gannett.com
419-334-1046
Twitter: @DanielCarson7
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Fremont man charged with sex crimes involving Ottawa County minor
