JACKSONVILLE, FL – Nicholas Stephen Woodyard, 30, of St. Augustine, Florida, will spend the next 10 years and 8 months behind bars for sickening crimes against children. U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis handed down the sentence today, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after Woodyard pleaded guilty on March 5, 2021, to distributing child sexual abuse materials.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Woodyard’s twin brother, Patrick Woodyard, already received a 15-year and 8-month sentence in December 2020 after pleading guilty to the same charges on August 28, 2020. Both men were initially indicted on March 4, 2020, accused of distributing, receiving, and possessing horrifying images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The Grimy Times doesn’t shy away from the depravity of these cases, and this one is no different.
The investigation began with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tracing an internet upload of a particularly disturbing image – a depiction of a child being sexually abused. The signal led directly back to the Woodyard brothers’ residence in St. Augustine. A subsequent search warrant yielded a digital treasure trove of evil: hundreds of files containing child sex abuse materials, including videos showing the sexual assault of a toddler. The content was beyond disturbing.
But the depravity didn’t stop there. Forensic analysis of one device revealed Nicholas Woodyard’s secret recordings of his own family members while they were undressed. Investigators also uncovered evidence of his attempts and desires to engage in incest. This wasn’t just about possession; it was about a pattern of predatory behavior within his own home, a betrayal of the most fundamental trust. The court also ordered Woodyard to pay $5,000 in restitution to a victim of his crimes.
“Children are the most vulnerable victims, and predators such as this use extraordinary means and sophisticated deceptions to target and victimize innocent children across our communities,” stated K. Jim Phillips, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (Jacksonville). “Thanks to the incredible work and dedication of our HSI special agents and our partners with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, this predator will no longer have access to such victims.”
This case was a collaborative effort, investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase prosecuted the case. It’s also part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. You can find more information about Project Safe Childhood at www.justice.gov/psc. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on all federal crimes impacting our communities.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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