Woodard Sentenced in Lauderdale County Court

District Attorney Kassie Coleman announced today that after a three-day trial, a Lauderdale County jury unanimously found Demarco Woodard, 48, guilty as charged of one count of Sexual Battery of a Child under

the age of 14, one count of Lustful Touching of a Child, and one count of Sexual Battery of a Child under the age of 16. The victim was repeatedly abused by Woodard for more than three years, starting when she was only eleven years old. Circuit Court Judge Charles W. Wright, Jr., presided over the trial.

Judge Wright sentenced Woodard to the maximum penalty on each charge: a term of Life, fifteen years, and thirty years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. All three sentences shall be served

consecutively and without the possibility of parole.

The State of Mississippi submitted evidence of Woodard’s habitual offender status, pursuant to Mississippi

Code § 99-19-81, for having previously been convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon,

Aggravated Assault, and Armed Robbery.

District Attorney Kassie Coleman stated, “This victim overcame enormous adversity to face her abuser in court.

She showed profound bravery by testifying in a courtroom of strangers about the most traumatic events of her

life.

This victim told about the repeated sexual assault she suffered at the hands of this Defendant; my team and

I are honored to be able to fight for justice with her.”

During closing arguments, the prosecutor told the jury, “When the people who are supposed to protect children fail to do so. It is our job to be the protectors and hold those offenders accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by

Assistant District Attorneys Kate Martin and Erich Jerschei