BY KEITH EPPS
A man who drove from Delaware to Stafford for what he thought would be a sexual tryst with a child was ordered yesterday to serve 12 years in prison.
George Louis Woodrum of Dover, who will turn 70 next month, was sentenced in Stafford Circuit Court to 24 years in prison with 12 years suspended.
Woodrum had previously pleaded guilty to six charges --two counts each of attempted indecent liberties, using a computer to solicit sex from a child and using a computer to solicit child pornography.
Judge J. Howe Brown Jr.'s sentence was higher than the recommended state sentencing guidelines, which called for a maximum penalty of about seven years.
According to the evidence, Woodrum was in Kentucky last year while the victim, his 13-year-old great-niece, was visiting relatives.
Woodrum drove the girl home and later began communicating with her over the Internet.
Among the Internet messages were requests for pictures of the girl in a bikini. Woodrum's niece, the girl's mother, found the messages and called the Stafford Sheriff's Office.
Detective Darryl Wells began communicating with Woodrum while posing as the girl.
Woodrum's writings became increasingly sexual and he e-mailed pictures of his exposed private parts.
Woodrum eventually told the girl, who was really Wells, that he was coming to her house and wanted to sleep with her in the nude.
Woodrum had a thong and other items for the child when he showed up Nov. 12. Police were waiting, and he's been in custody ever since.
Woodrum's home in Dover was later raided and dozens of images of child pornography were found on his computer, police said.
Woodrum yesterday expressed sorrow for his actions. "Nobody in the world knows how deeply sorrowful I am," he said just before his sentence was pronounced.
Defense attorney John Mahoney asked for mercy, saying that anything over five years would be the same as a life sentence because of Woodrum's age.
He said that although what he did was "despicable," Woodrum could still be rehabilitated.
Prosecutor Tara Mooney responded that Woodrum would still pose a threat if released too soon and asked for a longer sentence.
Woodrum slumped over and sobbed loudly as bailiffs led him out of court after the sentence was pronounced.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com