Former rector expected to enter plea
By JIM LOWE Staff Writer

A scheduled announcement of a jury trial for Jim Wooldridge took a different turn Friday, as the former Lampasas clergyman waived his right to a jury trial.

Wooldridge, 62, instead now is to go before a judge Jan. 16 in a plea and punishment hearing, local officials said. Action on Friday occurred in Judge Joe Carroll's 27th District Court. Carroll ordered a presentencing investigation, which he can review and have on hand for the hearing.

Wooldridge is charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact -- second-degree felonies. Wooldridge was indicted last March 14, after having been arrested Jan. 11.

The range of punishment -- if he is found guilty -- is from two to 20 years in prison. A fine not to exceed $10,000 also could be imposed. If Wooldridge is found guilty, he also could receive a probated sentence, officials said.

The former Episcopal rector's lead defense attorney is Eddie Shell of Burnet. Shell is being assisted by Lampasas attorney Richard Hammett. Lampasas County Attorney Larry Allison is representing the state.

If Wooldridge pleads not guilty, he would go before a judge to be tried. It has yet to be determined if he can plead nolo contendere (no contest), Allison said.

Should the former rector plead guilty, the presentencing investigation will be considered, and the state and defense can file attachments to the document for the judge to consider in assessing punishment, Allison said.

The county attorney said Wooldridge has indicated he will enter a plea of guilty at the January hearing. But Wooldridge could elect to enter a not guilty plea and have a trial by the court but not a jury trial, Allison said. If the former rector chooses the latter path, a judge would determine his guilt or innocence, the prosecutor said.

Early last December, Wooldridge -- who had been rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church for 13 years -- notified church officials about the charges being made against him. As a result, he was placed on administrative leave and "inhibited from any ministry carried out as a priest." In March, he renounced his holy orders and resigned as priest of St. Mary's.

Also arrested at the time charges were pressed against Wooldridge was John Christian Wood, of Lampasas, for sexual assault, indecency with a child and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Wood, now 21, had lived with Wooldridge at the church parsonage for a couple of years.

The arrests of Wooldridge and Wood were spurred by a report to police last Dec. 1 that a male juvenile had been sexually assaulted by the two men. An investigation followed over the next six weeks, which resulted in arrest warrants being issued for the two men by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Andrew Garcia.

Wood, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced in September to four years in the Texas Department of

Corrections for indecency with a child by sexual contact. resources