Judge revokes bond of man accused of brutal gunpoint sexual assault

William Baucum
William Baucum

A man accused of committing a brutal gunpoint sexual assault in 2016 is back in Bowie County custody following a district judge's decision to revoke his existing $100,000 bond.

William Emmett Baucum III, 46, was arrested Feb. 5, 2016, the same day a former girlfriend reported Baucum sexually assaulted her repeatedly at his home in New Boston, Texas. Baucum posted bond on a $100,000 bail with the help of a commercial bondsman Feb. 7, 2016, and has made regular court appearances in the case since.

Baucum appeared with Texarkana lawyer Joe Tyler for a regular pretrial hearing Jan. 14 before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell. Tidwell ordered Baucum to submit to routine drug screening at the hearing. Later the same day, a warrant was issued for Baucum's arrest. The warrant was executed Jan. 22 and Baucum remains in custody. Warrants of the type which resulted in Baucum's recent arrest typically stem from violation of court-ordered conditions of release attached to bond.

Baucum allegedly beat, bit, raped and sodomized a woman he was romantically involved with for hours the night of Feb. 4, 2016, and into the morning of Feb. 5, 2016, 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 rape 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 was indicted in June 2016 for four counts of aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon. Each count is punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison.

Baucum is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 11 for his final pretrial hearing. Jury selection is scheduled to occur before Tidwell the following day at the Bowie County courthouse in New Boston. First Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Richards are prosecuting.

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