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Billy Woolley
During a Sept. 27 bond hearing review for a 49-year-old Beaumont landlord indicted for charges including indecency with a child, a local judge said he was considering revoking the man’s bond after learning he’s earned another indictment – this time for attempting to pull the wool over eyes leading a rental assistance program.
Billy Lynn Woolley, 49, appeared Tuesday before Criminal District Judge John Stevens, who told the defendant he was considering revoking his bond after the man allegedly attempted to defraud the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC). Woolley appeared in court Tuesday already carrying the baggage of five charges, including sexual assault, aggravated assault, assault/family violence, indecency with a child and theft.
“The court is considering revoking all his bonds and giving him no bond,” Stevens said. “The indictment is probable cause that he committed a crime while on the court’s bond. That may be sufficient enough.”
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Examiner through an information request, SETRPC reported to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) that Woolley – while on bond for the aforementioned crimes – attempted to defraud the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) of $115,000.
An operations manager reported that Woolley had submitted multiple claims for tenants, saying he was owed $115,000 in back rent.
“The tenants have been taken to Judge (Naomi) Doyle’s court for eviction,” reads the affidavit penned by JCSO Detective Chad Williamson. “One of the tenants said the claims made by Woolley were false. (The tenant) stated he (has resided) on Billy Woolley’s property (on Old Dowlen Road), since November 2021 – for $600 a month. (He) was shown the paperwork that was submitted to SETRPC. (He) said the rental agreement was fictitious and he has not lived on the property for the time period that was given to SETRPC. (The tenant) said Woolley offered to give him a car from his car lot if he participated with ERAP.”
Woolley then filed for the man’s eviction, alleging rent due of $15,000, according to the affidavit.
A second tenant echoed the claims of the first, saying she, too, didn’t live on the property for the times Woolley alleged. A third tenant who, according to Woolley, owes the man $20,000 in back rent also refuted the landlord’s claims.
“(The man) said Woolley told him to go to court with him and keep his mouth shut on the figures that Woolley presents,” the affidavit reads. “(He) said Woolley told the judge that he owed $20,000. (He) says he does not owe Woolley that much money. (He) said that Woolley offered him free months of rent and get his water turned on.
“After speaking with multiple people, including Billy Woolley, Woolley offered free rent – and even a car – to tenants if they went along with the eviction process and application process of ERAP. Woolley caused others to sign or execute documents to a government entity to make a pecuniary gain with the intent to defraud the local government.”
“I want to set this for a bond hearing, and y’all can bring folks in and tell me why his bond should not be revoked,” Stevens said before concluding the hearing.
Previous reporting by The Examiner shows that, according to four indictments secured in March 2021 against Woolley, the then-48-year-old was alleged to have exposed himself sexually to a minor in 2005, raped a woman in 2016, and choked and pulled a gun on a woman he was dating in 2018. These charges were on the heels of a misdemeanor charge that was still pending when Woolley went on the lam, according to Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Tatiana Zelezniak, who advised that Woolley’s arrest in June 2021 – months after the four felony indictments – was made in California, even though the case started on the other side of the United States. For more on the story, visit theexaminer.com.
B. Scott McLendon is an Alabama-born, nationally award-winning staff writer at The Examiner in his fifth year as a reporter. Contact Scott with questions, comments and story ideas by calling (334) 482-2801, emailing scott@theexaminer.com or visiting The Examiner at 795 Willow St. in downtown Beaumont.