Teen testifies man rubbed her body when she was a child
TEXARKANA, Ark. — A jury of six men and six women heard opening statements and some testimony Tuesday in the trial of a Genoa man accused of child sexual abuse.
Willard Page, 74, denies any wrongdoing. The girl, now 17, testified Tuesday that she was around 4 or 5 when Page began rubbing her body and molesting her with his hands.
She told the jury her biological mother, whom she has not seen since she was 8, was related to Page by marriage and would leave the girl with Page on a regular basis. The alleged victim testified that she thought her routine of grabbing a blanket and climbing on Page’s lap was “normal” until she was an older child and had not seen Page for some time.
The girl and her stepmother testified that she began living with her father and stepmother full-time at around age 8 after her biological mother’s drug use and neglect of her led to involvement with Child Protective Services. The girl’s stepmother, who has a law enforcement background, testified that in November 2018 she took the girl’s cellphone from her as a disciplinary measure after some defiant behavior.
“I guess I’m nosy. I went through her phone,” the stepmother testified under questioning from Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell.
The stepmother testified that she read text messages between the girl and her boyfriend in which she spoke of having been sexually abused. The stepmother said she confronted the girl and ultimately reported the allegations to the Miller County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigator Patsy DeHart, who now works for Arkansas State Police and formerly for Miller County Sheriff’s Office, testified that she was assigned the case and interviewed Page in November 2018 and January 2019, under questioning by Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Black. DeHart said Page admitted the girl spent time at his home when she was a child but denied any misconduct.
Under cross-examination by Potter, DeHart said she interviewed some of Page’s neighbors but did not interview any of Page’s children or parents of children for whom Page, a carpenter, had cared for. DeHart said she did interview a special needs boy who currently lives with Page.
The girl’s boyfriend testified that, when the alleged victim sent him text messages about being sexually abused, he encouraged her to tell her father and stepmother though she kept the allegations a secret until her stepmother confronted her.
Page turned himself in with the help of his lawyer, Tommy Potter of Texarkana, in February 2019 and was released on a $50,000 bond. Circuit Judge Carlton Jones placed the jury in an evening recess mid-afternoon Tuesday with instructions to return Wednesday morning to the Miller County Courthouse.
Because of COVID-19, everyone is required to wear a face covering in the courtroom unless they are a testifying witness or questioning a witness. Rather than sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the courtroom jury box, jurors are spread out with several in the jury box and others in seats typically occupied by observers.
Page is charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault. If convicted, Page faces five to 20 years and a fine up to $15,000 on each count.