Paroled murderer faces sex charge involving girl

11/3/2005

PORT CLINTON An Ottawa County man who spent nearly 30 years in prison for the 1974 murder of an Oak Harbor-area shop owner has been convicted of molesting a 13-year-old girl in July.

Donald Woods, 50, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one count of disseminating material harmful to juveniles.

He could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.

Lorrain Croy, an assistant county prosecutor, said Woods admitted in court he showed pornography on his computer to the girl, asked her to have oral sex with him, then tried to force her to engage in intercourse.

Woods was paroled in February, 2004, from a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for the shooting death Nov. 12, 1974, of Gretchen Musser, 44, who owned a sporting goods and bait shop. His parole was revoked in August, and he faces the possibility of additional prison time in that case.