Do You Want Stephen Wayne Caldwell to be Your Neighbor?

Stephen Wayne Caldwell likes to read. The trouble is he likes to read child pornography, as well as sell it.

Caldwell was arrested in Kentucky on August 13, 1994, and convicted of possession and distribution of child pornography on June 19, 1997. As a convicted sex offender/predator, Caldwell is required to register as such wherever he lives; as well as reside a distinct distance from day care facilities and other educational establishments.

By 2006, he was working at Pilgrim's Pride Poultry in Russellville and residing at 630 West Lawrence Street, a working class neighborhood of small homes where American, Mexican, and Guatemalan manual laborers frequently reside. Caldwell last listed the Lawrence Street home in Russellville as his official residence on February 9th of this year.

By June 30th, Caldwell was living with a roommate at 2148 Highway 101 in the Town Creek mailing jurisdiction. Town Creek is a small Lawrence County community located near the cusp of the Lauderdale and Colbert County border. Neighbors who were aware of Caldwell's status reported to Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell that the roommate's three children frequently spent the night with the two men at their home midway between downtown Town Creek and the village of Hatton to the South.

Caldwell is now being held on $15,000.00 bail in the Lawrence County Jail. After he resolves his current legal difficulties, Stephen Wayne Caldwell will be looking for a new residence. We wish him well as long as he maintains the required distance from children.


What's up with this: Many have questioned for some time why the TimesDaily offered no coverage of Lauderdale teacher Keith McGuire's legal problems at Clements School in adjoining Limestone County. Sources have recently reported that McGuire's sister, Susan McGuire Adams, is a close friend of Bob Gruber who served as TD publisher during most of that period. Nuff said.

More Charges Likely for Kenneth Dyar Wood

Kenneth Dyar Wood is a 70 year-old Pentecostal minister, the father of three daughters, and an accused child rapist. Currently, Wood is being held in the Morgan County Jail with bond set at $70,000.00. According to Morgan County Sheriff Gene Mitchell, the Speake resident has been the subject of a two-month investigation that culminated with his arrest for the rape of a child under the age of twelve.

Specifically, Wood is charged with raping an eleven year-old Colbert County girl at his home in December 2008. During the investigation, two other girls stated that Wood had sexually molested them. According to investigators, more girls and young women have indicated they will now come forward and further charges are likely.

The Barnett Chapel Pentecostal Church where the accused rapist had served as pulpit minister for several years has publicly announced that Wood resigned as of last Sunday. Officials there refused further comment.

Obviously, we will hope no one previously knew of this man's deviant behavior. Married to 68 year-old former Wanda Marie Gillespie, Wood is the father of 42 year-old Tracy Marie Wood HIcks, 38 year-old Wendy Scarlett Wood, and 34 year-old Shelly Kenya Wood. Certainly his church must have seen him as a God-fearing family man who could be trusted with the children of the congregation. Yet, over 13% of religious leaders have admitted to having sex with congregants, consensual and otherwise.

Sadly, the next few days and weeks will reveal the scope of Kenneth Dyar Wood's deviance. It won't be a pretty picture.


What's up with this: The Florence Police Department is being severely criticized for wasting taxpayer money in the UNA-bomber case. Some are also suggesting this case led to the resignation of the University's head of public safety. Interesting message to send.