CULLMAN, Ala. – Kenneth Loyd Woods, 53, of Fairview, indicted in 2017 for multiple counts of human trafficking and other crimes, was released Friday, Nov. 20 following a plea deal worked out between defense attorney Alex Chaney and Cullman County Deputy District Attorney John Bryant and approved by Circuit Judge Gregory Nicholas.
Under the terms of the deal, Woods pleaded guilty to two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes in separate cases (Circuit Court cases 2017-647 and 2017-648), and was sentenced to 18 years on each charge with the sentences to run concurrently. The sentences were suspended, and Woods was released with credit for the 18 months he has already served since his bond was revoked in the cases due to charges of witness tampering.
All other charges and cases (Circuit Court cases 2017-659 and 2018-845) against Woods were dismissed, including:
- four counts of first-degree human trafficking
- two counts of electronic solicitation of a child
- two counts of transmission of obscene material to a minor
- a third count of enticing a child for immoral purposes
- second-degree rape
- second-degree sexual abuse
- unlawful distribution of a controlled substance to a minor
- tampering with a witness
DDA Bryant declined to issue a formal statement, but told The Tribune that forensics experts had not been able to retrieve telephone and online communication evidence the DA’s office had hoped for, and that one of the alleged victims in the case is now deceased.
“A number of factors (sic) led to the plea,” said Bryant, who concluded, “Under the circumstances, it was a situation where we felt like that was the best thing to do.”
Under the deal, the new charges will be added to Woods’ existing sex offender registration. He was required to pay a $65 Crime Victims Compensation Assessment on each charge and will be on supervised probation for five years.
“We want all sexual predators to get the maximum sentence allowed by law. We are confident the DA consulted with the victims and made the best decision for the victims,” said Kathy Wilson, chair of the Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force. “We are pleased that he will be required to register as a sex offender. The sheriff’s office will monitor and track him as they do all sex offenders. They do an excellent job with that difficult task. Our task force will continue on with our mission. We will educate and raise awareness in our community. Working together we can all make our community a safer place to live.”
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