Anthony Cloud
Staff Writer
The prosecution opened their case Thursday in the William Wesley Wilder trial. Wilder, 41, has been charged with first-degree rape (victim under 12 years of age), first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy (victim under age 12), first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse (victim under age 12), and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse.
During opening statements, Commonwealth Attorney Karen Greene Blondell went through each individual charge for the jury via a power-point presentation. The seven counts involve two separate girls, who will be referred to as alleged victim one and alleged victim two. Six of the charges involve victim one and one sexual abuse charge involves victim two.
Blondell stated she would show proof that between 2004 through 2010 the alleged victims lived with Wilder along with their mother, who was married to Wilder for several years, in Brownies Creek community.
She said evidence would show that throughout the home, while the mother was away to work, Wilder had sexual intercourse with alleged victim one multiple times between 2004 and 2010. She also said there were instances involving sodomy.
Alleged victim two never had sexual intercourse with Wilder but was allegedly improperly touched by him.
Blondell stated another alleged incident occurred that involved the improper touching of another child in 2007 (alleged victim three) while on a routine summer trip to visit her father. The child currently lives in Texas and no charges were ever pressed in the incident.
Blondell introduced the names of several professional witnesses including Jackie Crawford, Beth Shaw and Tracy Miller.
One key witness in the case was the mother of alleged victims one and two. While the mother was at the stand, Blondell introduced exhibits two through seven into evidence. The exhibits were photos of alleged victim one from age 10 through 15, which were the ages when the alleged events occurred.
The mother testified that 2010 was the year, while eating at a McDonald’s, that alleged victim one told her mother about the alleged abuse involving Wilder. After a confrontation with Wilder involving the allegations, Wilder never attempted to return to the home, according to the mother.
Another key witness for the day was Crawford. He has been licensed to practice medicine since 1999 and worked alongside an advocacy center in London.
Crawford was the doctor that performed a gynecological examine on alleged victim one in August 2010. He testified that from the examine that the alleged victim had sexual intercourse several times.
He testified the scaring that was found were not “fresh” meaning it had not been done recently. In cross-examination, Crawford told defense attorney James Hodge that there was no evidence of sexual assault recently.
Alleged victim three also took the stand for the prosecution. The alleged victim testified that while her and Wilder were sitting on the couch, he put his hand up her shirt and grabbed her breast.
After telling him to stop, Wilder allegedly attempted to do it a second time. The alleged victim told her cousin who in turn told other family members. Alleged victim three left the house and never went back again, according to testimony.
The alleged victim also testified that Wilder had been drinking alcohol when the alleged incident occurred.
One key witness during cross-examination for Hodge was a male juvenile. In earlier testimony, it was mentioned that the juvenile had angrily confronted Wilder after finding out what he had allegedly done to alleged victim one. It was also stated that the juvenile willing stayed with the mother of alleged victims one and two. Blondell had also mentioned that this juvenile had been the one to encourage alleged victim one to tell her mother about the alleged acts.
When brought to the stand, the juvenile denied giving any encouragement to the alleged victim. He also denied having an angry confrontation with Wilder and spitting on him. When asked about leaving from the house, the juvenile said he did not have a way to leave.
The juvenile also stated that he had sex with alleged victim one at least 15 times. Blondell stated that testimony will show that the two only had one sexual encounter with each other.
The juvenile told Hodges the alleged victim enjoyed being around Wilder and that she would get mad anytime he and Wilder were alone together.
After nearly four hours of testimony, Bell County Circuit Court Judge Robert Costanzo adjourned for the day. The trial will pick up at 10 a.m. today. The Daily News will have more coverage on this trial in the weekend edition of the paper.
Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com.
He is a piece of shit and deserves to go to jail where the inmates can take care of him.
For adults to get on here and act like these girls are lying is absolutely ridiculous!
THAT is why girls don't tell, because of adults that are judging them now.
He has found religion and quit drinking? HOW CONVENIENT.
I wish it was the good old days where you could hang them on the courthouse square!
He is married and a good father figure NOW? HAHA
I hope she don't get too comfortable, he will be there long enough to get through this trial and then he will be on to the next one.
Anyone who thinks he IS NOT a molestor/rapist/PIG, move him in your house wit YOUR kids and see what happens.