AUGUSTA — Scott R. Wood, a former Winslow High School teacher and coach, pleaded guilty this morning to a charge of unlawful sexual touching of a girl under the age of 18.

Wood provided the district attorney with a written apology, saying he was sorry to authorities, the Winslow educational community, his family, the victim and her family.

“I accept responsibility for my actions,” Wood wrote.

Following the plea in Kennebec County Superior Court, Wood, 38, of Oakland, was granted a day to gather his belongings from Winslow High School. He will serve six months at the county jail starting Wednesday.

District Attorney Everett Fowle said today that Wood chose to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful sexual touching as part of a plea bargain, which stipulated that a second count be dismissed. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail, with all but six months suspended, plus administrative release for one year after he’s out of jail.

Other conditions of Wood’s plea are that he have no contact with the victim or her family; no unsupervised contact with any girl under the age of 18, unless he is related to the girl and has written permission; that he provide a written apology; that he stay off the property of Winslow schools; that he resign his Winslow teaching position and surrender his teaching certificate; and pay $2,000 in restitution.

Wood’s attorney, Joshua Tardy, said his client “is very sorry for the events that led to the criminal charges and this morning’s plea.”

“He has nothing but respect for the Winslow community and is very much looking forward to putting this matter behind him,” Tardy said.

Wood, who was a social science teacher, was named the Morning Sentinel boys basketball coach of the year this past spring. He was also named Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B Coach of the Year for girls soccer in 2008 and 2009. In 2002-03, Wood’s first as coach of the Winslow boys basketball squad, the Black Raiders won their first state championship in 64 years.
Wood won his 100th career game as boys basketball coach on Feb. 8 this past season.
 

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