By Mike McCormick Staff Writer A defendant whose case began nearly three years ago following his arrest by Highway Patrol troopers on the Turner Turnpike has entered a guilty blind plea and been handed suspended prison terms.
Charles Michael Brownlee, 39, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on Nov. 1, 2022 with unlawful possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the intent to distribute; driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating substance, second and subsequent offense, both felonies; and a misdemeanor of driving while license is suspended.
Appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge during a felony disposition docket, Brownlee entered a guilty blind plea. The judge received the plea and found him guilty as charged on Count 1. She sentenced Brownlee to 20 years in the Department of Corrections with all time suspended, a $100 fine, $100 VCA and court costs.
On Count 2, Judge Bridge sentenced him to 10 in DOC with all time suspended, $100 fine, $100 VCA and court costs.
On Count 3 Brownlee was sentenced to one year in the Lincoln County Jail with all time suspended, $100 fine, $100 VCA and court costs and the judge ordered the sentences to run concurrent with each other.
Judge Bridge further ordered Brownlee to continue participating in the Bryan County Drug Court, obtain a DUI assessment, attend a Victim’s Impact Panel, pay 991 fees and perform 40 hours of Community Service.
She placed him on Supervised Probation with DOC and ordered him to report to the Probation and Court Clerk’s offices.
Assistant District Attorney Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case for the state and Kenneth Watson served as Brownlee’s attorney.
Count 1 accused Brownlee on Oct. 29, 2022 of possessing quantities of Methamphetamine and Heroine with the intent to distribute those substances while driving a Chevrolet Camaro car on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County.
In Count 2, on Oct. 29 he reportedly was driving that Chevrolet Camaro car on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County while under the influence of Methamphetamine, Heroine or some other intoxicating substance.
Count 3 accused him of driving while his license is suspended, a misdemeanor by operating the Chevrolet Camaro on the Turner Turnpike in Lincoln County.
In an affidavit, State Trooper Joe Spears stated Oklahoma City dispatch advised it had received reports of a red Chevrolet Camaro traveling eastbound all over the road on the Turner Turnpike about 8:25 a.m. Spears advised he was westbound on the turnpike at mile marker 190 and when the Camaro was at the 155 mile marker numerous witnesses reported the car struck the center wall more than once and departed the road to the south side and was in the grass with air bags deployed.
Trooper David Hamilton and other officers from Lincoln County, Deputy James Robinson, Luther Police Department, Capt. Chris Fetters also arrived on the scene, the affidavit states.
EMS transported Brownlee to the Stroud ER for treatment and later after he was checked out and released from the ER he was transported to jail.
Supplemental information filed by prosecutors showed Brownlee was previously convicted in Oklahoma County District Court of a felony of driving while under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating substance, a second and subsequent offense.
In 2009, in Cleveland County District Court he was convicted of a felony, of receiving or possessing stolen property.
That same year, he was convicted in Oklahoma County District Court of felony domestic abuse and felony escape after lawful arrest.
Also in 2009, Brownlee was convicted in Oklahoma County District Court of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.
In 2014, he was convicted in an Oklahoma County District Court felony case of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.
In 2016, Brownlee was convicted in Oklahoma County District Court of felony possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and felony possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction.
In Marshall County District Court in 2017, he was convicted of felony false personation.
Also in 2017, Brownlee was convicted in Oklahoma County District Court of possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction.