Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Pleads Guilty, Names Second Suspect In Case

There was little surprise when Jared Ian Woodley, 17, pled guilty to rape in a pre-trial hearing Thursday, Jan. 16.

Woodley, along with DeChay Wilson, were charged with four separate counts, including the rape of a 68-year-old Prescott woman on April 20, 1996.

However, while Woodley confessed to the crime and named Wilson as his accomplice, Wilson maintained his innocence and is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 3, 1997.

According to court records, Woodley was charged with residential burglary, aggravated robbery, theft of property and rape. With the exception of theft of property, all other charges were felonies.

Rape, in the state of Arkansas is a class Y felony, punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison.

By pleading guilty, Woodley was sentenced to a total of 30 years. However, the actual sentence passed by Eighth Judicial District Circuit Judge Jim Gunter was 20 years for residential burglary; 30 years for aggravated robbery and rape; and one year for the theft charge.

When asked to tell his story on record for the court, Woodley said he and Wilson went into the woman's home around 11:30 p.m. on April 20, where they both raped the woman and ransacked her home looking for money.

Woodley, as part of his agreement with the court, apologized to the victim for his actions face to face.

Danny Rodgers, deputy prosecuting attorney, said he had talked with the victim and her family, with them agreeing 30 years wasn't enough time for what he had done. But, because Woodley cooperated with the legal system, they agreed to accept the plea bargain.

In addition, Rodgers told the court Woodley had no prior history of trouble with the law and possibly could be salvaged to become a productive citizen after serving his time.

On the other hand, Rodgers said the court system has been dealing with Wilson for six or eight years.

"He got mixed up with the wrong people," Rodgers said of Woodley. "Thirty years is a lot, but will never compensate the victim for what she's been through. A lot will be up to him inside. He can get an education and prepare for (the future) when he gets out.

"I believe he regrets doing this. His attitude has made a difference."

With this, Gunter passed sentence on Woodley, based on his guilty plea to the four counts involved, giving him a total of 30 years.

Woodley gave a tape recorded statement to Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office and Prescott Police Department, along with Scott Clark, criminal investigator with the Arkansas State Police.

In the statement, Woodley recalled how he and Wilson went to the victim's home to steal money. At the time, she was sitting on a couch in the living room.

He said they were in the house some time before confronting the victim, but eventually, the two went into the living room and put a towel over her face, demanding money.

Both had knives they had taken from the kitchen, the statement shows.

After stealing about $50 from the victim, Woodley said Wilson raped her, though he tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn't, though he later did rape the woman. Wilson was allegedly the first to commit a rape.

Upon being arrested, both Wilson and Woodley underwent psychiatric evaluations at the South Arkansas Regional Mental Health Center in El Dorado.

Both were found competent to stand trial, though Woodley's tests showed him to have a full scale IQ of 77.

Woodley was also given credit for 268 days served against his sentence.

See related story, on this page for the Wilson pre-trial hearing.