According to MCSO, Carl John Butcho II stole over $200,000 from clients while posing as “Lance Miller,” the owner of the Charleston Lane Wedding Venue in Willis.
WILLIS, Texas — Austin police have arrested a man who’s accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from couples while posing as the owner of a Willis wedding venue.
At least 17 couples paid Carl John Butcho II payments combining for more than $200,000 only to have their dream weddings turned into nightmares, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday.
Editor’s note: The above video originally aired in June
Butcho was arrested in Austin and charged with theft of property valued between $150,000 and $300,000, a second-degree felony.
According to MCSO, Butcho posed as “Lance Miller,” the owner of the Charleston Lane Wedding Venue in Willis.
Investigators say 12 victims paid Burch for weddings that never happened. Another five victims had weddings at the venue but never received promised refunds for various issues.
One of the devastated brides shared her story with KHOU 11 in June. The day before Cyndi Ou’s wedding in May, she arrived for her rehearsal only to find the venue chained shut.
“He just took our money and left,” Ou told us. “It’s very traumatic to this day to speak about it.”
Ou had to scramble to find a venue for her ceremony the next day. She said “Miller” stopped answering her calls as well. She lost $54,000 in all, including her security deposit.
An additional five victims who did have weddings at the venue reported not receiving promised refunds for various issues, adding $11,450.00 in losses.
Among them is Rachelle Dawkin. She said “Miller” failed to deliver fireworks, a dessert bar, and a photo booth on her wedding day.
“There are a lot of good memories, but of course, you’ll never forget the scandal of Charleston Lane,” Dawkin said.
“This individual was deceiving from the very beginning,” said Lt. Scott Spencer with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, told KHOU 11 in June. “We have way too many victims that have been out way too much money.”
Butcho was booked into the Travis County Jail on Thursday, August 14, and given a $100,000 bond.
“This arrest is a testament to the dedication of our investigators and the cooperation between agencies,” Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said. “These victims placed their trust in someone who exploited their special day for personal gain, and we are committed to ensuring that justice is served.”
Butcho is expected to be extradited to Montgomery County soon.
The new owner of the wedding business changed the name to The Lake Venue.” Alex Garcia said he has no ties to Butcho. Garcia said he donated the space to scammed couples. Anyone with a previous booking can contact him at info@thelakevenuebyag.com.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been affected by this case is encouraged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-538-8393 and reference case number 25A151828.
Tips for booking a wedding venue
Wedding industry professionals tell KHOU 11 there are red flags to watch out for when booking a venue:
- Be wary of significant discounts for cash payments
- If a venue doesn’t have a business license displayed, ask questions
- Avoid sending money to personal banking or payment accounts
- Consider wedding insurance, it can help recoup costs in case of fraud
- Hire a wedding planner early, they often know local venue reputations better than online reviews
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