December 16, 2025

Judge imposes maximum sentence on YDC perpetrator James Woodlock

We reached a major milestone in court: A judge delivered a harsh sentence to James “Woody” Woodlock, who a jury convicted earlier this year on two counts of acting as an accomplice in the rapes of David Meehan. This outcome vindicates not only Mr. Meehan but all victims in the pursuit of justice for the culture of abuse at YDC.

Mr. Meehan presented a victim impact statement to the court before the sentencing. This is a small quote from his statement: “That 16-year-old boy is still inside me. He has waited almost three decades for an adult in authority to say, ‘What happened to you was wrong, and no child will ever be hurt like that again on my watch today.’”

Judge Delker heard David. He imposed the maximum sentence possible under the law: two ten-to-twenty-year sentences that will run consecutively. That means that Woodlock will serve a minimum of 20 years before the opportunity for parole. He is 60 years old, so there is a good chance he will never see the outside of a prison again.

This sentence sends another strong message to the community and to the former employees of YDC that victims will be believed, and that anyone who was a perpetrator of abuse will be held accountable to the highest degree.

Below is a statement from the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence:

“David Meehan’s courage in coming forward has changed the trajectory of this case and exposed a history of horrific abuse that never should have happened. Today is the result of a survivor who refused to be silenced and a legal system finally beginning to reckon with its past. We stand with David and with every survivor whose childhood was stolen at YDC. Justice must continue, and we will not stop advocating until every survivor is heard, believed, and supported.”
—Amanda Grady Sexton, Director of Public Affairs, NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

You can watch a full video of the sentencing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmTcDHJNgGA

Thank you,

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