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June 02, 2005
Suspect in child sex abuse case likely to plead guilty
EASTON -- A city man who faces more than 200 sex abuse charges and more than 2,400 years in prison is expected to plead guilty to all or some of the charges next week, officials say.
Police say Jimmy Woodginski abused at least one 8- or 9-year-old girl repeatedly from 1992 to 1996. Police obtained 130 photos of the 39-year-old abusing the girl as other children looked on.
Woodginski is also charged with groping a 17-year-old girl and trying to sexually assault her twice in late 2003.
Woodginski's wife, Brenda, gave the pornographic photos to an Easton coin laundry employee on Nov. 9, 2003. She was charged with 130 counts of sexual abuse of children for each of the photos. She pleaded guilty to 65 counts and was sentenced to 21 years and eight months to 43 years and four months in state prison.
"These photographs represent the most extreme depravity and exploitation of children," said Judge Leonard N. Zito when he sentenced Brenda Woodginski in February. "These are repulsive. I don't care to see them."
Jimmy Woodginski was recently returned to Northampton County Prison from Norristown State Hospital. A doctor found he was not competent to stand trial, but after treatment at the state hospital he is now competent.
Northampton County Judge Stephen G. Baratta entered an order Tuesday scheduling a guilty plea hearing for Jimmy Woodginski for June 10.
Assistant District Attorney Pat Broscius said Woodginski will probably be sentenced a few months after the plea hearing because he must be evaluated to determine whether he is a sexually violent predator.
If Woodginski is found to be a sexually violent predator, he could be required to register his address with authorities for the rest of his life under Pennsylvania's version of Megan's Law.
Jimmy Woodginski's attorney, Mark Refowich, did not return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.
Woodginski is charged in three separate cases for the 1992 to 1996 incidents. For those cases, Woodginski faces 11 counts of rape, 23 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, 26 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 138 counts of sexual abuse of children, 16 counts of indecent assault and nine counts of endangering the welfare of children.
In the two cases involving the 17-year-old victim, he faces two counts each of attempted sexual assault and indecent assault.
Jimmy Woodginski faces a cumulative total of 2,469 years in prison.
Brenda Woodginski has asked to withdraw her guilty plea and enter a plea of guilty but mentally ill. That way she can serve her sentence in a mental health facility until authorities determine if she can be transferred to prison, according to her attorney Robert Patterson.
A hearing on Patterson's request is also scheduled for June 10 before Zito.
Posted by Nealus at June 2, 2005 02:52 PM
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