A $40,000 bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Wellston man who failed to appear for his pre-preliminary hearings on a total of a dozen charges, among them four felonies.
The charges were filed against him in two separate cases within two weeks of one another.
Michael Ray Hedge, 45, was charged in Lincoln County District Court on May 19 with three felonies and a misdemeanor.
Special Judge Emily Mueller set his bond at $10,000 and he made his initial appearance on May 26.
She scheduled a prepreliminary hearing for June 23.
It was then moved to July 28.
He failed to appear on that date and Judge Mueller issued the bench warrant for his arrest.
The felonies include possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with intent to distribute after former conviction of two or more felonies.
He is also charged with manufacture of CDS/possessing material with intent to manufacture after former conviction of two or more felonies; and the third felony is possession of firearm after former felony conviction.
The misdemeanor is unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
The possession of CDS with intent to distribute after former conviction of two or more felonies allegedly occurred May 11 in Wellston with him possessing methamphetamine and intending to distribute it.
The manufacturing charge reportedly occurred the same day and the materials which are used in the manufacturing of meth at 330268 E. 850 Road in Wellston in Lincoln County.
The firearms charge accuses him of possessing a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson located on a couch after he had been convicted on Nov. 24, 2015 in Payne County of possession of CDS.
Supplemental information filed by prosecutors also shows Hedge was convicted Feb. 28, 2019 in Payne County District Court of Count 1, possession of CDS and Count 2, driving under suspension.
Two weeks prior to those counts being filed against Hedge, he was also charged with one felony and seven misdemeanors.
Originally, a $20,000 bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Hedge. Court records show that the warrant was returned and filed on May 18. Judge Mueller set the same date for his court appearance and it was also moved to July 28.
He failed to make an appearance on those charges as well.