A “manipulative slum lord” accused of rape, indecency with a child and rental-assistance fraud – who claimed his only transgression was “trusting a one-legged Marine” – is scheduled to have another chance to spill revelations at his next court appearance in January.
In an hours-long hearing that resulted in bailiffs escorting Billy Lynn Woolley, 49, into custody, Jefferson County Criminal District Judge John Stevens found there was probable cause that the defendant had violated the No. 1 condition of his probation – by earning another criminal charge, namely attempted theft.
“I’m guilty of trusting a one-legged Marine to do my paperwork, who made a lot of mistakes. That’s all it is, mistakes,” Woolley said in reference to duplicate applications asking for $115,000 in rental assistance funding for his properties.
Stevens wasn’t swayed by Woolley’s repeated claims that his secretary, Marine veteran Rodney Gravett, was the mastermind behind the failed swindling.
“You really do speak out of both sides of your mouth,” said Stevens after Woolley – not for the first time – offered an irreconcilable response to a question. And that wasn’t the first, nor last, admonishment the judge rendered in regard to Woolley.
Woolley’s most recent charge stemmed from attempts to file redundant applications to attain rental assistance from the state through Texas Rent Relief (TRR) and Jefferson County through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). TRR initially sent Woolley approximately $70,000 for a handful of tennants in 2021. Personnel working for the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC), the group that distributed ERAP funds, noticed suspicious irregularities in forms for Woolley’s residences.
Before his newest charges, Woolley earned indictments for four felonies and one misdemeanor for charges including indecency with a child, sexual assault, aggravated assault, assault/family violence (one misdemeanor, one felony) and securing the execution of a document by deception.
“100% I’m innocent, and 100% y’all are reporting correct stuff that is public record,” Woolley told The Examiner after reading a story concerning his alleged sex crimes.
“Obviously, if a guy is good-looking enough to have this many (nine) ex-wives, I’m not what they say I am,” he said in reference to the indicted cases of indecency with a child, sexual assault, aggravated assault and assault/family violence.
The Examiner reached out to a number of Woolley’s ex-wives and girlfriends, who detailed a history of abuse and manipulation at his hands.
“He is a raging narcissist – everything that he does has a motive,” said Michelle Harder, Woolley’s third wife, in comments that echoed the thoughts of many. “He portrays himself as an altruist, who cares about those who are in need, and he’ll set himself up in a position to help people. But, it’s always to benefit him.”
According to the mother of Woolley’s son, a woman whose identity The Examiner is withholding to protect her children, “He’s narcissistic; he’s controlling. He literally thinks he does no wrong. He belittles people. If you are not up to his standards, he will make you feel like you were below. He gets off on making people feel bad and he wants to put everybody beneath him because he thinks he is above everybody, including the law. He’s just a terrible (expletive) person.”
Billy Woolley is the true embodiment of pure evil, according to Anna Wann, a woman Woolley was engaged to when he was 43 and she was 17. Wann is also the named victim in a couple of Woolley’s indictments.
Nov. 8, Stevens doubled Woolley’s bonds in each of his now-five cases, bringing the new total to $500,000; he’ll have to cough up 10% ($50,000) to bail out this time.
Information presented in court by the defense and prosecution revealed Woolley paid his last bond with rental assistance funds he received from the state. As of press time, Woolley’s name appeared on the Jefferson County inmate roster.