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| Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie De La Garza Roy Woods, center, stands while his attorney James Dunleavy addresses Justice E. Allen Hunter during Woods’ sentencing on June 23 at the Aroostook County Superior Court in Caribou. |
By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Pleading guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual contact, two counts of assault and one count of unlawful sexual touching, former Caribou Fire Chief Roy Woods will serve 30 days in jail, followed by 60 days house arrest, one year of probation and 500 hours of community service. Each of the five class D misdemeanors carried with them a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail.
Both victims addressed the court during the July 25 sentencing, describing the long-lasting anguish resultant from the sexual assaults that occurred between 2009-10 for one victim and in December of 2011 for the other — which marked the final years of Woods 44-year career with the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department.
In January of 2012, Woods submitted his resignation in lieu of termination, citing medical reasons as the impetus.
As stated by Judge E. Allen Hunter during the sentencing, both victims were either in need of employment or in pursuit of career objectives at the time of the incidents and vulnerable to Woods’ power and authority, and Woods, he said, exploited the vulnerability of both young women.
“Mr. Woods repeatedly abused the public trust that was placed in him. These crimes occurred when he was in the course of his employment, and he did what he did in order to satisfy his own desire for sexual gratification,” stated Justice Hunter.
Representing Woods was Attorney James Dunleavy of Presque Isle, who ask that consideration should be made for Woods when passing judgment on the sentencing, such as his physical impairments.
“Not to diminish the gravity of the offences, these are misdemeanor offenses, your honor, and they do involve offensive touching and they do — we don’t dispute — have some effect on the victims as indicated by the two victims who have spoken to the court,” Dunleavy said to Justice Hunter. “But Mr. Woods, very early on, as indicated by the state, apologized right away.”
Dunleavy also stated that Woods’ entering a guilty plea indicated that he has taken responsibility for his conduct and has not put the victims through a trial, which could be further traumatizing for them.
Justice Hunter acknowledged Woods’ appearing before the court with no prior record and accepting the responsibility of his actions.
“He comes before the court with over 40 years of exemplary public service and significant professional achievement,” Justice Hunter said. “I think he is entitled to receive due credit for the manner in which he has lived his life … Mr. Woods has done a great deal in service to others and has achieved a great deal, and obtained a high level — statewide level — of professional standing.”
“He is here today however in a different posture,” the judge continued. “It’s not difficult to imagine the humiliation that these young women experienced at the time they were being exploited by Mr. Woods; Mr. Woods now stands here experiencing his own public humiliation. This is the consequence he has brought upon himself.”
Five people spoke during court to Woods’ character and longtime community commitment — including his granddaughter, Barbara Scott, Diana Cain, David Bell and Ivan Shapiro.
But the victims expressed a different perspective.
“He used his position as fire chief to sexually assault me and other women. He humiliated me. I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get out of that building and to get away from him. Should he receive some credit from this court? I hope not,” said one of the victims. “He used his position to sexually assault me and humiliate me, and all I wanted was a job.”
Woods offered an apology to his victims and the court.
“I would like to personally apologize to [the victims] for anything I have said or done, I wish I could take time back and right my actions, but I can’t,” he said. “The past year and a half has been really rough and to the breaking point. And I’m sure it was hard on them also and again I apologize for that. I also apologize to the court for time wasted on this issue. I truly apologize for that.”
Woods was sentenced to 364 days in jail on each of the charges, with all but 30 days suspended on each count — as the sentences are to be served concurrently, Woods will serve a total of 30 days in jail. During his 60 days under house arrest, which will be part of his one year of probation, he will be allowed to leave for medical appointments, legal appointments, and a four-hour window one day a week for personal matters like going to the bank or the grocery store.
