Wadsworth man faces 14-40 years in prison

A Wadsworth man is facing a minimum of 14 years in prison after admitting he molested two young boys over a period of years.

Joseph Wojdyla, 21, could receive up to 40 years behind bars when he returns to face Lake County Associate Judge George Bridges for sentencing on March 31.

Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Stanton said Friday that Lake County sheriff’s police went to Wojdyla’s residence in the 39000 block of Delany Road on Sept. 8, 2009.

The officers had received a report that there were pictures of naked boys on Wojdyla’s cell phone, Stanton said, and approximately 10 such pictures were discovered.

Investigators found the names of two boys, one 12 and the other 13, listed on the pictures and went to interview both boys.

Stanton said the boys said Wojdyla molested both of them on repeated occasions beginning in early 2008, Stanton said.

On Friday, Wojdyla pleaded guilty to one count of predatory sexual assault of a child and two counts of criminal sexual assault, while charges of manufacture of child pornography were dropped.

Stanton asked Bridges to revoke Wojdyla’s $250,000 bond after the pleas were entered, saying that he now faces definite prison time and was rated as a high risk to reoffend in an evaluation.

But defense attorney Albert Wysocki countered that Wojdyla has known he could be sentenced to life in prison for more than a year and has appeared in court on every scheduled date.

Bridges said he would allow Wojdyla to remain free so that he could assist Wysocki in preparing for the sentencing hearing.