WELLSBURG – The parents of a young girl have filed a civil lawsuit against a man who has been sentenced for sexually assaulting and abusing the girl.
J.R. and C.R. as parents of A.R.R. filed their complaint January 18 in Brooke Circuit Court against Keith Allen Wood, who is now 70.
“This minor child was sexually abused (raped) by an adult neighbor who she trusted,” attorney Teresa Toriseva told The West Virginia Record. “She is very brave to be standing up for herself against an adult male who was ultimately convicted in criminal court of sexual abuse and sexual assault against her. We should all be so strong when met by bullies and rapists.”
Wood
| Courtesy photo
According to the complaint, the parents entrusted Wood with their daughter, who visited Wood alone at his neighboring home in Brooke County. They say from May 1, 2017, to July 10, 2017, Wood engaged in sexual assault and abuse of a minor.
He was indicted by a Brooke County grand jury on March 5, 2018, on two counts of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of sexual abuse by a custodian. He was tried and found guilty of all charges. He currently is serving time at the Northern Regional Jail in Marshall County.
Wood was sentenced to serve 25 to 100 years for each count of sexual assault and 10 to 20 years for each count of sexual abuse by a custodian. He also was fined the maximum $20,000.
Wood has appealed his trial verdict to the state Supreme Court. Attorney William E. Galloway says several errors denied Wood a fair trial. Those include the barring of testimony from an expert witness and allowing "large burly bikers" wearing "Bikers Against Child Abuse" clothing to sit in the courtroom.
The complaint says Wood was 64 at the time of the incidents, and the girl was 7.
“The minor child advised the plaintiffs that a neighbor touched her ‘private parts’ and ‘licks her privates’ and stated this happened when she visited her neighbor, defendant Mr. Wood,” the complaint states. “The minor child also stated that every time she went to the defendant’s home he ‘held her down’ and ‘licked her privates’ and would make her ‘touch his privates.’”
According to the complaint, the girl also told her parents Wood would get an erection and orgasm when she touched him.
“The minor child disclosed that when she was at the defendant’s home, she would do handstands and then the defendant would take off her pants, underwear and begin to touch her,” the complaint states. “The minor child disclosed that, on more than one occasion, the defendant would ‘lick her’ and hold her down as she tried to fight him.”
According to the complaint, the girl also told her parents Wood raped her and told her the liquid flowing out of her was called “juice” when she believed it was urine.
“The defendant also kissed her mouth and butt repeatedly,” the complaint states. “The defendant touched the minor child in inappropriate locations several times.”
The plaintiffs accuse Wood of sexual assault, sexual abuse, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
They seek compensatory and punitive damages for injuries that include permanent physical injuries, past and future pain and suffering and mental anguish, past and future loss of enjoyment of life, past and future humiliation, embarrassment, indignity and shame. They also seek other economic damages such as diminished earning capacity, future lost wages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
The plaintiffs are being represented by Joshua Miller and Sherrilyn VanTassel of Toriseva Law in Wheeling. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ronald E. Wilson.
Brooke Circuit Court case number 23-C-7