NBC 6 [Lampasas TX]
January 12, 2007
http://www.kcentv.com/news/c-article.php?cid=1&nid=11814
Two Central Texas men are charged with sexual assault of a child, and one of the men is a priest at a local church.
The charges against father Jim Wooldridge of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lampasas and a man living with him have members of the community talking.
Resident Dorothy Darnell said, "I'm shocked. There's so much of that going on, it's hard to believe. I really am devastated."
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Father Jim Wooldridge, 61, and John Christian Wood, 20, were arrested on sexual assault and indecency with a child charges Thursday.
Investigators said on December 1st a child and their parents came forward with allegations of abuse occurring over a period of time.
A month long investigation led to their arrest.
According to police, the two men lived in a house next to the church, but friends say the relationship wasn't sexual.
Resident Michelle Underkoffler said, "Father Jim took J.C. in. J.C., was going through a hard time.
Father Jim helped him straighten out his life." Wood's father declined to comment, but can be seen here moving his son's belongings out of Wooldridge's church home Friday morning.
Wooldridge himself didn't answer the door when we tried to talk to him, but his friends are backing him up.
"I think what's going on is outrageous. I don't believe a word of it. I have two kids that adore the man. It hurts," Darnell said.
Wooldridge is out on an $8,500 bond.
In addition to sexual assault charges, John Christian Wood was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana.
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