TRUSTEE IS IMPLICATED IN ABUSE

OFFICERS SAY SHE LET HUSBAND MOLEST GIRL

EDWARDSVILLE --- A trustee on the South Roxana Village Board has been charged with letting her husband sexually abuse their adopted child.

A grand jury indictment unsealed Friday accuses Wanda J. Holmes, 63, of permitting her husband, Bobby Holmes, to sexually abuse their adopted daughter sometime in February or March.

Bobby Holmes, 72, was arrested in August on a charge of sexually assaulting the girl, who is younger than 17 and was adopted by the couple about 10 years ago.

Madison County Sheriff's Lt. John Lakin said the girl told Wanda Holmes about being assaulted by Bobby Holmes.

"The victim went to her when it was taking place in February or March of this year. To our knowledge, she did nothing to contact any law enforcement agency or prevent any additional occurrences," Lakin said.

He declined comment on whether the girl suffered additional sexual abuse after Wanda Holmes was informed.

"We don't know exactly how long this activity has been going on," Lakin said.

Wanda Holmes has served on the Village Board for a little more than eight years. She was re-elected to another four-year term earlier this year.

Police began an investigation after the girl filed a complaint with South Roxana Police. Madison County sheriff's detectives investigated the case, rather than South Roxana Police, because of Wanda Holmes' position in the village government.

Wanda Holmes posted $5,000 cash bond for her release Friday from the Madison County Jail. A woman who answered the phone Friday at Wanda Holmes' residence said Wanda Holmes did not wish to speak with a reporter.

Bobby Holmes remained in jail Friday with bail set at $100,000.

Lakin said the girl no longer resides at the Holmes residence.