What started as a brief exchange at a Montgomery park has landed a local man in front of a judge. A Montgomery man was arraigned Wednesday after a nanny reported he offered candy to a 4-year-old at Swain Park, triggering a criminal child enticement charge along with a judge-imposed electronic monitoring and stay-away condition.
Park encounter and arrest
As reported by WKRC, 54-year-old Woury Sow allegedly asked the girl's nanny on Tuesday if the child would like a piece of candy and to walk toward his car at Swain Park. Court papers say Sow told the witness he "could do what he wanted" and that he was a councilman.
What the law says
Ohio's criminal child enticement law makes it a crime to knowingly solicit, coax, or lure a child under 14 to go with an adult, including getting into a vehicle, without a parent or guardian's permission. Under the Ohio Revised Code, the offense is generally a first-degree misdemeanor, although certain prior convictions can bump it up to a fifth-degree felony.
Court order and defense
A judge set bond at $15,000 and ordered that if Sow posts bond, he must wear an electronic monitoring device and stay away from the girl, according to WKRC. Sow's attorney told the station the episode is a misunderstanding and may be the result of a language issue.
Next steps
The case will move through the local courts as prosecutors file their paperwork and the defense responds. We will continue to track court records and local reporting for developments.
