William W. “Billy” Hooper, a Williams Wharf resident charged with seven counts of sexual offenses against a minor, was granted bail on Wednesday morning by Judge Jeffrey Shaw in Mathews County Circuit Court. The case came before Shaw on appeal after Judge Sharon B. Will of Mathews Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court denied bail for the defendant last week.

After hearing arguments from Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Bowen as well as from Hooper’s defense attorneys, Conrad Bareford of Mathews and John Rockecharlie of Richmond, Shaw said he found that the defense had overcome the presumption against bail that is associated with the charges against Hooper. Those charges include child pornography, forcible sodomy, and human trafficking, among others.

Shaw set a $100,000 secure bond for Hooper, as well as a 24-hour-per-day, seven-day-a-week curfew. Hooper will be allowed to leave home only for appointments with his doctor or lawyer or the court, and he must surrender...