The City of Bangs issued a press release Friday regarding the arrest of the city’s Public Works Director 38-year-old William Ray McAnally Friday morning by a Texas Ranger on charges of sexual assault.

Bangs City Manager Leo Smith stated in the release that he was contacted by an individual from Terrell County earlier in the week with a rumor regarding McAnally’s probable arrest and sat down with McAnally immediately to ask if there was any truth to the matter.  According to Smith, McAnally told him there was not.

“Willy has done an excellent job since joining us,” stated Smith in the release.

Bangs Mayor Eric Bishop also issued a statement in the release.

“This is a tough day.  Right now what I know is that Public Works Director Willy McAnally was arrested this morning,” said Bishop.  “Leo and I have met and until we get more information there just isn’t anything more we can do or say.”

The arrest has caught city officials by surprise stating that McAnally was a good worker and highly recommended at the time of his hire.

“Leo and I hired Willy on a strong recommendation from Terrell County where he was working at the time from among about three dozen applicants,” said Bishop.

McAnally ,of Bangs, is charged with sexual assault and was held in the Brown County Jail, in lieu of $100,000 bond as of Friday afternoon.