Family trio charged in Rock County child abuse cases spanning decades

JANESVILLE — A Rock County family faces serious charges as a mother, father and son are accused of sexual assaults dating back to the 1990s, with the son implicated in an assault this year.

Cody D. Markham, 27, of Beloit was charged last month in Rock County Circuit Court with incest and repeated sexual assault of a child. The assault allegedly started occurring to the then 7-year-old in January. He has a bond hearing on Friday, July 26. He is represented by Public Defender Jaclyn Solinger.

His parents, Spencer W. Markham, 57 and Kelly F. Markham, 53, both of Janesville, are also accused of sexually assaulting the same child. According to criminal complaints, Kelly told police the family member told her that she was being sexually abused by Spencer in 2020, which she did not disclose to the police until March 2023.

During the investigation, the child was found to be sexually assaulted by both the elder Markhams. A person, whose relationship with the family is not clear, also came forward in 2023 accusing Spencer of sexually assaulting her in their Janesville home when she was living with them for several months while she was in eighth grade.

Spencer Markham is being charged with three counts of repeated sexual assault of a child in Rock County Circuit Court. He pladednot guilty and has a plea hearing on Wednesday, August 14. He is represented by Public Defender Ryan W. O’Hara.

Kelly is accused of standing by while the father of her children, Spencer, sexually assaulted their children in the ‘90s. She is also accused of sexually assaulting her children during that time. She is being charged with failure to act on a sexual assault of a child, second-degree sexual assault of a child, child enticement with sexual contact and incest with a child in Rock County Circuit Court. She pleaded not guilty and has a bond hearing on Wednesday, July 24. Her jury trial will begin on Monday, Sept. 16. She is represented by Delavan Attorney Melissa Anne Frost.

Every charge for each Markham is a felony. All three suspects are currently being held in Rock County Jail.