Bond has been modified for a Lenoir man who admitted that he violated the conditions of his pre-trial release.

William Howard Shore, 78, of Lincoln Lane, Lenoir is accused of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He was found to be in possession of several photographs that showed the alleged victim, who was 8 years old at the time, topless. He was arrested in September 2009 and ordered not to have any contact with the victim and her family.

During court Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Lori Goins asked Superior Court Judge Beverly Beal to revoke Shore’s bond because he has had repeated contact with the victim’s family. She argued that Shore has been to the victim’s home on numerous occasions and bought the family groceries. She also alleged that Shore was meeting the victim’s family at another location.

To support her argument, Goins called Diane Osborne to the stand. Osborne is Shore’s step-daughter, and she testified that Shore told her about the contact. She said her step-father has been eating dinner with the family since being ordered not to in September 2009. She also detailed a visit she made to Shore’s house when she saw the alleged victim running from the home and Shore coming out a different door. In addition, Osborne stated that Shore had intentions of giving the victim a car.

“Your honor, this man knows the conditions of his release and violated them; there should be consequences,” Goins said. “He has repeatedly came into contact with the victim, and we would ask you to revoke his bond. He should not be in contact with the victim in a case that is sexual in nature.”

However, Blair Cody, defense attorney, argued that Shore only had contact with the family when they invited him over. He questioned the victim’s father about that contact, discussing times he ordered pizza and asked Shore to pick it up, as well as the fact that Shore helped secure a job for the victim’s father. While discussing various visits with Shore, Cody asked the victim’s father if his daughter had spent the night at Shore’s house since September, and he answered “no.” However, when Goins asked the very same question, the victim’s father stated that she had.

In addition, Cody argued that Shore is suffering some memory loss and may not fully understand the terms of his release. He pointed out inconsistencies with Shore’s comments and how Shore doesn’t always remember who Cody is. He also told the court that the alleged photographs were located under the sink under some cleaners by some family members. He also said Shore was questioned by officers at the Lenoir Police Department while he was recovering from bypass surgery.

“If we were dealing with a 35-year-old man, I could see a harsher verdict, but this a 78-year-old man with some memory loss,” Cody said as he paced behind his assigned table. “He has no family to care for his residence or his dogs. We don’t deny that he violated the conditions, but I don’t think that violation was willful.”

Beal denied Goins’ motion to revoke bond, but he did modify it. Shore was released Wednesday on a $45,000 unsecured and $5,000 secured bond. The original bond was $50,000 unsecured. He also stressed the importance of the pretrial conditions. He presented Shore with a physical copy of his conditions - which include no contact with the victim and her family, abide by a curfew of 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and to not leave Caldwell, Catawba or Burke counties. He also told the victim’s father that he is not to call Shore or have any contact with him outside work because if he does, Shore may go to jail.

“I have taken into consideration the preliminary evaluation of this defendant, but he does work daily,” Beal said. “This is a not a matter of a person who is unable to provide for his defense, but the court has to fashion a remedy that will prevent this problem, which is why I am going to modify the bond. I don’t think it is right to revoke the bond because he is not a danger to society or a flight risk, but there is to be no more contact.”

Shore is expected to go to trial on Monday, July 26, and he has 30 days to complete a forensic examination.

Hood sentencing scheduled for May

A Lenoir man who pleaded guilty to several felonious charges during this week’s Superior Court administrative session will be sentenced during the week of May 3.

Joshua Michael Hood, 19, of 518 Cottrell Hill Road, Lenoir, pleaded guilty to two counts indecent liberties with a minor, felony possession of cocaine and felony possession of marijuana. Hood is facing a possible maximum sentence of 98 months in prison.

The charges against Hood stem from two separate incidents. He is accused of having inappropriate relations with a 12-year-old between March and April 2008. He also was charged with the drug violations in November 2008 when narcotics officers with the Lenoir Police Department found drug paraphernalia throughout his home and seized approximately .25 grams of illegal drugs and ammunition from inside his house.

During the hearing, Daniel Fulkerson, defense attorney, argued that the brief relations between Hood and the victim were consensual and that Hood didn’t turn 18 until a month later. He also said that while the two incidents were unrelated, the alleged drug use may have been an influence.

Superior Court Judge Beverly Beal, who accepted the plea as written, said he is waiting for the results of a pre-sentencing evaluation before making his ruling. He did say, however, that Hood must have no contact with the victim, not leave Caldwell or Catawba counties and possess no child pornography. He also must abide by a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and possess no weapons.

“These conditions are very important,” Beal advised Hood. “If you violate any portion of the conditions, it would result in you being held without bond until the sentencing hearing.”