A former U.S. Army Soldier convicted by court-martial of sexually abusing a child has resurfaced online under a different public identity promoting children’s books and family-oriented content across Amazon and social media platforms.
Public military records reviewed by The Salty Soldier identify former Spc. Charles W. Wood as having been convicted at Fort Bliss on May 25, 2016, by a military judge, contrary to his pleas, of two specifications of sexual abuse of a child. According to Army records, Wood was sentenced to reduction to E-1, confinement for six years, and a dishonorable discharge.
Years later, Wood appears to be operating online under the name “Cal Sherwood,” an author persona attached to multiple self-published books, including children’s titles such as The Adventures of Florence & Marley, marketed through Amazon and promoted heavily on Instagram.
Online biographies associated with the “Cal Sherwood” identity claim the author has “29 books available worldwide” and “33 books in print and e-book format.” Social media accounts tied to the persona feature extensive military imagery, fitness content, and children’s book promotion.
Photographs reviewed by The Salty Soldier show a man visually consistent with Charles Wood appearing across both older military photographs and newer “Cal Sherwood” social media accounts. One archived military-era image shows a Soldier wearing an Army uniform with a visible “WOOD” name tape, while more recent photographs associated with the “Cal Sherwood” identity depict the same individual promoting books online and socializing with active-duty military personnel.
Social media posts reviewed by The Salty Soldier show active-duty Army officer Donald “Don” Scales referring to Wood publicly as “Charles Scales,” including posts documenting travel, and shared residences.
Publicly available Maryland property records further show “Charles Wood” and “Donald Spencer Scales” jointly listed as owners of a Baltimore residence purchased in July 2024, with the property identified in state records as a principal residence.
Public social media activity additionally places the pair in both Maryland and Kentucky in recent years, including posts referencing Kentucky communities near Fort Campbell before later ties to the Baltimore and Fort Meade region.
Scales publicly identifies himself online as a Senior HR Officer assigned to the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber), the Army’s dedicated offensive cyber warfare brigade operating under U.S. Army Cyber Command and INSCOM at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
The Salty Soldier is not alleging wrongdoing by Scales, and no evidence has been identified suggesting the active-duty officer committed any criminal violation. However, the continued proximity of a convicted child sex offender to military communities has raised concern among individuals familiar with the case.
A source The Salty Soldier has chosen to keep anonymous stated they were concerned Wood remained connected to military communities following his release from confinement.
“He is also married to an active duty officer and has been living close to multiple military bases,” the source told The Salty Soldier. “I worry because his first victim was the son of a soldier stationed with him.”
Following that tip, The Salty Soldier independently conducted additional research that connected Wood to the “Cal Sherwood” online identity, Maryland property ownership records, and public social media activity involving Major Donald Scales.
The Salty Soldier additionally located Charles Wesley Wood on Nevada’s active public sex offender registry in connection with the May 25, 2016 military conviction for sexual abuse of a child. The Nevada registry identifies Wood as a Tier 3 offender and lists the conviction as originating from a U.S. Army military court.
Nevada property records do not identify Wood as the owner, or previous owner, of the residence listed on the Nevada registry.
Under Maryland law, Tier III sex offenders convicted in other jurisdictions must register if they establish residency, maintain a temporary presence, work, or attend school in the state.
At the time of publication, The Salty Soldier reviewed Maryland sex offender registry searches for “Charles Wood,” “Charles Scales,” and “Cal Sherwood,” and also searched the address of the Baltimore residence owned by Wood and Scales. No matching registry entries were identified.
The Salty Soldier attempted to contact Maryland registry authorities to inquire about whether Charles Wood was required to maintain a Maryland registry entry but was not able to receive a response prior to publication.
Despite the controversy surrounding the case, there is currently no federal or state law outright prohibiting convicted sex offenders from writing or publishing children’s books.
The First Amendment broadly protects expressive speech, including written works, even for convicted criminals. Courts have repeatedly struck down blanket restrictions preventing offenders from participating in lawful speech or publishing activity after completing criminal sentences.
The law distinguishes between criminal conduct and protected expression. While offenders may face restrictions involving internet usage, contact with minors, or media targeting children during probation or supervised release, the government generally cannot impose a permanent lifetime ban on publishing lawful written material.
Legal scholars often point to the constitutional doctrine against “prior restraint,” meaning the government usually cannot prohibit publication of a book before release absent extraordinary circumstances.
That does not mean offenders face no practical barriers.
Traditional publishing houses, literary agencies, schools, and retailers frequently conduct background checks and may refuse partnerships with convicted offenders to avoid reputational backlash. Registered offenders are also commonly prohibited from schools, parks, libraries, and youth-centered events, limiting many standard children’s book promotional opportunities.
Self-publishing platforms and social media, however, have dramatically lowered the barriers for individuals seeking to distribute books under pseudonyms or alternate branding.
The case is likely to fuel broader debate surrounding rehabilitation, transparency, public safety, and the constitutional limits of restricting speech after criminal convictions.
The Salty Soldier contacted the U.S. Army for records regarding Wood’s conviction and is awaiting a response.
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