Two Plainfield men sentenced in mentally disabled woman's sex assault

PLAINFIELD -  Two city men face a combined 38 years in state prison in connection with the 2011 sexual assault of a mentally disabled woman whom they left outside in a snowstorm after the attack.

Edward Woodson, 35, was sentenced to 20 years in state prison and Marcal Campbell, 35, was sentenced to 18 years in state prison by Union County Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim, according to acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park.

Both men will be required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences before becoming eligible for parole and they will also each have to register as a Megan's Law sex offender and undergo parole supervision for life, Park said.

In February the two men were convicted of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault of a mentally disabled victim following a five-week trial before Peim. Woodson also was convicted of kidnapping.

On Jan. 31, 2011, Woodson apparently lured the woman from her home, telling her they were going to participate in Bible study and promising to return her home safe, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor's Jessica Kahn and Estrella Lopez, who handled the case.

The woman was taken to Woodson's home, where he and Campbell both sexually assaulted her in the basement for more than an hour, according to Kahn and Lopez.

Early the next morning, the men kicked the severely disabled woman out of the house and into a snowstorm with no cellphone, money or way to get home.

The woman was discovered later, given medical attention and told officials what happened. Woodson and Campbell were identified as suspects and arrested in February 2011 following an investigation by the Union County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit and the Plainfield Police Division.

 Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com