Buchanan Dam man arrested on rape and assault charges

by Alexandria Randolph

highland Lakes Newspapers

A Buchanan Dam man and convicted felon was arrested on two violent felony charges after Llano County authorities claimed he assaulted an adult and child in two separate incidences.

William “Willie” Canchola, 30, was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 20, on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated sexual assault of a child, second-degree and first-degree felonies respectively.

Llano County Sheriff's Lt. Glen Williams said the two incidences occurred in Buchanan Dam, but would not reveal the location of the offense.

“It was separate incidences with a separate victim,” he said, adding that the victim of the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was an adult.

Authorities would not say whether the victim was a member of Canchola's family or household.

Williams said the sexual assault investigation and subsequent criminal charge was not the result of an outcry made directly by the victim, and authorities are still investigating whether the offense was a single instance or if it took place over a length of time.

While Williams said there were not any additional victims that police know of, and Canchola was not exposed to any other children in a public venue.

“He does have a history of charges with us,” Williams said.

Canchola has a history of charges in Burnet County including aggravated assault, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, to which he pled guilty in November 2006 and served two years imprisonment.

Canchola was booked into Burnet County Jail on bond of $160,000 for the two felony charges as well as a charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle out of Crane County.