Convicted rapist, child molester facing new charges in Wythe

WYTHEVILLE - A Wythe County man already convicted of raping an elderly woman in the 1970s and molesting a girl in the 1990s is facing a new sexual abuse accusation involving another young female.

William Andrew Porter, 62, of Max Meadows, was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child under age 15. The reported abuse happened between June 7, 2011, and Nov. 26, 2012, according to direct indictments unsealed after his arrest.

On Jan. 16, a grand jury heard evidence from Wythe County Sheriff's Office Inv. Chris Terry before returning the felony charges, which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.

Employed by John's Construction for three months, Porter has spent most of his life in Wythe County, according to a magistrate's report.

In July 1992, Porter pleaded guilty to taking indecent liberties with a female under age 18, according to court records. As part of a plea agreement, he was given a five-year suspended prison sentence and placed on probation, which he successfully completed.

On May 13, 1976, Porter, who was 20 and pleaded not guilty to the crime, was convicted of raping a 79-year-old woman on Jan. 21, 1976.

According to the court file, the woman said Porter threatened to burn down her trailer if she told anyone.

Porter's sentencing was delayed until September of that same year, however, after his attorney asked the court to evaluate Porter's sanity.

Doctors said that he showed no signs of mental illness and was mentally competent, according to court documents.

Porter was sentenced to serve five years in prison and was given credit for the 189 days he spent in jail while awaiting trial.

He's being held without bond on the new charges, but no trial date has been set.