Former Police Officer To Undergo Psychiatric Exam

Lawrence B. Woods, the retired Flint police officer facing 16 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, will undergo a psychiatric exam to determine if he is competent to stand trial. The Flint CSC charges he is facing accuse him of abusing his position of authority as a police officer in order to have sex with children.

 
On Tuesday, September 23rd, a Judge ordered Woods to undergo testing at the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry, which is in Saline, Michigan. His defense attorney, Frank J. Manley said, “The sheer magnitude of the allegations against Sgt. Woods are such that we determined a competency exam was appropriate.”

 
According to a spokesperson at the Flint Police Department, all of the incidents of sexual assault occurred while Woods was on active duty as an officer, and took place during his shifts. Victim statements have led investigators to believe that the assaults took place in a variety of locations, including his former home, assorted hotel rooms, police vehicles, and also inside the Flint Police Department itself.

 
During a recent search of Woods’ house, police found hundreds of pornographic photos, most of them involving children. Woods is accused of making the child pornography, both at his home and in hotel rooms around the city.

 
More than fifty victims have been identified from photographs found in Woods’ home, but investigators are deeply concerned that there are more out there. Two women already came forward after the charges were made public, claiming that Woods sexually assaulted them when they were children. Police expect that many more will follow.

 
Woods is scheduled to return to court on November 25th on the Flint sexual assault charges. First-degree criminal sexual conduct, which is a felony under Michigan law, carries a minimum penalty of 25 years and a maximum of life. If convicted of all sixteen counts, Woods is most likely facing a life sentence in prison.