Eureka Resident Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography

SAN FRANCISCO – William Wood has been sentenced to 120 months in prison following his conviction on a charge of possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was imposed by the Hon. Trina L. Thompson, United States District Judge, on May 17, 2024.

Wood, 62, of Eureka, California, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). He was originally indicted on that charge by a federal grand jury in December 2022.

According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the defendant possessed more than 300 images and videos depicting child pornography on his electronic devices, including approximately 24 images depicting infants or toddlers and hundreds more depicting prepubescent children. The government further argued in its sentencing papers that the defendant used social media to send child pornography to another individual, including images depicting infants or toddlers and prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

In addition to sentencing Wood to prison, Judge Thompson ordered the defendant to serve five years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed and to pay $35,000 in restitution.

Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey Davidson is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.