Jury acquits man of child molestation charges

Feb. 02--A Vigo County jury on Thursday afternoon acquitted a Terre Haute man of child molestation charge to conclude a three-day trial.

William C. Billings, 47, hugged his attorneys and cried when Judge Sarah Mullican read the not guilty verdict in Vigo Superior Court 3.

Billings was accused of molesting a child in August 2016 at Gilbert Park. Terre Haute Police investigated after the child's mother said Billings lured the child into a secluded area near 14th and Orchard streets after asking the child to help him find a lost dog.

Another child who had been riding a bicycle with the child who reported the molestation confirmed Billings as the suspect when shown a photo lineup, police said. The other child also said the man had asked the two children to help him find his lost dog.

Billings was arrested a few days after the incident and has been held in the Vigo County Jail awaiting trial.

Attorneys Jim Organ and Christopher Shema defended Billings, while deputy prosecutor Dan McGlone handled the prosecution.

"I hope he starts to get his life back," Organ said of Billings, noting the defendant has been in jail about 17 months.

"We are very pleased with the jury and thankful they did the job they are sworn to do," Shema said.

___

(c)2018 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.)

Visit The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) at tribstar.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.