LANCASTER COUNTY, PA — A Manor Township man was sentenced to 27 ½ to 55 years in state prison last Friday after he was found guilty by a jury in June of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old in 2014.
Paul Woolery, 52 of the 1600 block of Colonial Manor Dr., was sentenced by Lancaster County Judge Jeffrey Wright on the aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person under 13, and corruption of minors convictions.
Woolery faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 to 50 years since it was his second-strike offense. He had a prior conviction of sexual abuse in the first degree in New York in 2000.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo also mentioned on the record that Woolery had two prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender in 2013 and 2014.
Multiple character witnesses spoke on behalf of the defendant, who maintained his innocence. Defense counsel said, “A sex offense accusation is a life-destroying event where there is a false accusation.” “We aren’t here because of the impact on their lives,” prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo said. “We’re here for the impact on one life: [the defendant’s] young niece. And while the defendant believes a sex-offense allegation is a life-destroying event, I counter that sex abuse is a life-destroying event.”
Collo argued to Judge Wright that no child should have to endure such abuse, the defendant showed no remorse, and the mandatory minimum sentence was a good starting point.
Judge Wright stated a jury of 12 found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and the Commonwealth clearly and unequivocally met its burden to sentence on the mandatory minimum. Wright urged the defendant’s family and friends to not only consider their loss, but the young victim who also suffered.
Judge Wright continued that Woolery’s crimes were of coercion, manipulation, and betrayal and that society needed to be protected.
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