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  Wife Testifies She Saw No Signs of Sexual Abuse by Her Husband

By Tammy J. Mccoy
The Press-Enterprise

October 10, 2008

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_sdad10.467d6b8.html

The wife of a Menifee man charged with raping one of their foster daughters testified Thursday there were no signs the little girl was ever abused by anyone during the 40-plus days the child lived with them in 2005.

In prior testimony, the child said Joseph P. Billock, the defendant, sexually assaulted her in a second-floor bedroom and stopped when his wife, Wendy Billock, announced from downstairs that dinner was ready.

In her testimony during Billock's first trial, the girl said her bedroom door was open.

The girl's videotaped statement to authorities, which the jury saw earlier this week, does not mention if the girl's bedroom door was open or closed.

On Thursday, Wendy Billock said she could see into the rooms on the second floor of her Menifee home when she stood on the stairs and called everyone to the dinner table.

Joseph P. Billock, 51, is on trial at the Southwest Justice Center charged with two counts of aggravated child rape.

This is the second trial for the ordained minister with the Church of the Nazarene. A jury in March was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial.

Wendy Billock testified that the girl never came to her with any complaints or concerns of a sexual nature involving her husband.

The Press-Enterprise does not publish the names of minors who could be victims of sexual assault.

Defense attorney Douglas Gilliland asked if she ever saw blood or signs of bodily fluid on the girl's clothing or bedding.

No, Wendy Billock replied.

Wendy Billock testified that her husband's pubic hair was dark grey while the child described it as red and grey.

During questioning by prosecutor Burke Strunsky, Wendy Billock said her husband has a medical condition that makes his skin dry.

Joseph Billock has patches of Psoriasis on knees, Wendy Billock said, but not on his upper torso chest or hands.

In her description of the incident to authorities, the girl reported that Joseph Billock had dry skin on his upper-chest area and hands.

Wendy Billock, who smiled when she appeared to glance at her husband of 19 years, told the jury they became foster parents in 2000 while living in San Diego.

She had experienced two miscarriages and the couple wanted to have a family.

Nine foster children were placed with the Billock's between 2000 and 2005, when Joseph Billock was arrested.

"Why do you do it?" defense attorney Gilliland asked of being a foster parent.

"Your heart just breaks for them," Wendy Billock said of the foster children. "We just wanted to do something. You are hoping that by bringing them into your home by loving them and teaching them manners . . . that you're making a difference in their lives."

The trial is scheduled to resume today at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley.

Reach Tammy McCoy at 951-375-3729 or tmccoy@PE.com

 
 

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