Man accused of sexual assault pleads not guilty on four counts

A New Boston, Texas, man accused of a brutal gunpoint sexual assault earlier this year pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault before a Bowie County judge Monday.
William Emmett Baucum III, appeared Monday morning for arraignment before 202nd District Judge Leon Pesek Jr., with Texarkana lawyer Joe Tyler in a first-floor courtroom of Texarkana's downtown Bi-State Justice Building. With Tyler's help, Baucum entered not guilty pleas to four counts of aggravated sexual assault, each of which is punishable by five to 99 years or life in a Texas prison.
Baucum allegedly beat, bit, raped and sodomized a woman he was romantically involved with for hours the night of Feb. 4 and into the morning of Feb. 5, according to a probable-cause affidavit used to create the following account. The woman told investigators Baucum became "irritated and aggressive," about 11 p.m. at his home on County Road 122. The assault allegedly continued until about 5:30 a.m.
The woman told investigators she was only able to seek help when Baucum left for work in the morning. Baucum allegedly took the woman's car keys, cellphone, cash and debit card.
A deputy who responded to the woman's emergency call at 8 a.m. Feb. 5 noted visible redness and swelling on the woman's face, as well as a bite mark on her lower jaw. The woman told the deputy Baucum bit her and hit her on other parts of her body as well.
"The victim stated that (Baucum) placed the barrel of a silver revolver action handgun to her forehead and threatened to kill her," the affidavit states.
The woman reported that Baucum used his genitals, fingers and a sexual aid to sexually assault and sodomize her violently.
Officers arrested Baucum at his home later that day. Inside a safe in Baucum's home, deputies found the handgun allegedly used during the assault, as well as several containers filled with marijuana.
Baucum posted bond Feb. 7 on a $100,000 bail. Pesek scheduled Baucum to return to court Sept. 12 for a pretrial hearing.
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