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Youth minister faces sex charges

By JACOB H. FRIES, Times Staff Writer
Published September 27, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Noel Marie Wood, 28, faces two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

A youth minister at a Christian church in Largo has been arrested on charges that she performed sex acts on a 16-year-old boy in her youth group, authorities said Wednesday.

Noel Marie Wood, 28, who also served as a missions director at the Real Life Christian Church of Pinellas, faces two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Wood, who is married, was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on Wednesday in lieu of $20,000 bail.

According to police, Wood performed sex acts on the teen in her Pinellas Park home on two occasions in August. The incidents came to light Tuesday when the teen's mother met with Wood to ask why she was spending so much time with her son.

Wood had been calling and sending text messages to the teen, prompting his mother to arrange the meeting, police said. During that meeting, Wood acknowledged having sexual contact with the boy, they said.

Wood was arrested at her home Tuesday and declined to speak with police about the charges.

On the church's Web site, Wood is identified as staff under the heading "Dr. Noel Wood."

"Noel leads our church in the decisions related to sponsoring foreign and domestic missions. ... She also plans a yearly foreign mission trip where our members can go and influence other nations for Christ."

Fred Wolfe, the church pastor, said he learned of the allegations on Tuesday and had been asked by Wood's family not to comment on the case. He would not say what role she played in the church or what sort of doctor she was.

"She's always been wonderful for us," he said. "She's always been a wonderful person. We are all truly shocked at the allegations."

The church, in its third year in Pinellas, has about 85 members and planned to offer counseling to those affected by the case.

[Last modified September 27, 2007, 00:16:40]