Former Louisville police officer convicted in youth Explorer scandal back in custody

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB/WAVE) — A former Louisville Metro Police officer convicted in the youth Explorer scandal is back in jail.

Brandon Wood was arrested Tuesday for allegedly failing to provide a current photo for the sex offender registry, according to court documents.

In a memo explaining Wood's charges, he's required to update his photo on the registry every two years. A compliance check found that he hasn't updated his photo since February 2023.

In court for his arraignment Wednesday morning, Wood pleaded not guilty, and Judge Mary Jude Wolford set his bond at $10,000. His next court appearance was scheduled for Sept. 1.

Wood is a 20-year sex offender. He was convicted of sexually abusing teens in LMPD's youth Explorer program and sentenced in 2019 to 70 months in prison for attempted enticement of a teen in the program. Wood was convicted on seven counts of sexual abuse with one alleged victim, a juvenile, stemming from incidents in 2011 and 2012.

Wood admitted to trying to entice a juvenile under 18 to engage in sexual activity, according to court records.

Between 2011 and 2012, Wood attempted to entice a juvenile to engage in sexual activity, according to authorities. Wood met the juvenile through the LMPD Explorer program, which mentored youths interested in becoming police officers, during a camp held in Bullitt County.

Wood used social media to make contact with the juvenile after the camp, attempting to entice him into sexual activity, according to the charge.

He also pleaded guilty in state court to seven counts of sexually abusing a teen in the program. He served a five-year sentence concurrently with his federal conviction.

In November 2021, the city settled a lawsuit with seven former youths who claimed in lawsuits they were sexually abused while in the Explorer program for $3.65 million.