MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The charges against a man accused of trying to kidnap a 10-year-old girl twice were dismissed, but prosecutors said that doesn’t mean they’re letting the case go.
Tavius Woods appeared in court Thursday morning where Judge Bill Anderson dismissed the charges.
“Tearful not only about that the case is not over today, but that Mr. Woods is going to have to be arrested again,” said Woods’ attorney Blake Ballin. “It`s obviously something that stresses Mr. Woods out.”
Ballin said prosecutors want to bring the case to criminal court to get Woods committed claiming he’s a danger to himself or society.
The case will go before a grand jury, and if he’s indicted, he will be arrested, booked and released again on his own recognizance.
This was just the latest development in a case spanning several years.
In 2014, Woods was charged with solicitation of a minor and aggravated sexual battery.
Police say he tried to sexually assault a then-nine-year-old, who is the older sister of the girl he’s accused of trying to kidnap.
The court ruled back then he wasn’t competent to stand trial. The charges were dismissed and later expunged from his record.
Police said he tried recently to kidnap that child too, but was never charged.
A judge ordered Woods undergo a mental evaluation for this latest case and in June the report once again found he was incompetent to stand trial.
It’s unclear when this case will go to a grand jury.
WREG learned Woods worked for Shelby County SChools before the aggravated sexual battery charge was expunged for his record in 2016.
The TBI warned the district not to hire him.
Shelby County SChools has yet to agree to an interview about its hiring process.
