A $100,000 bench warrant has been issued for a defendant who once again has failed to show up for his court appearance.
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.
He was arrested by a state trooper on the Turner Turnpike in October of 2022.
Appearing most recently on July 2, 2024 before District Judge John Canavan for a plea, Brownlee’s case had been continued until Sep. 3.On that date he failed to appear after his name had been called three times in open court.
His attorney Kenneth Watson had indicated he might be in treatment somewhere, but the judge issued a bench warrant and set the bond for $100,000, also issuing a bond forfeiture order.
Brownlee has failed to show up for court appearances on two other occasions, once in December of 2022 and again in June of 2023.
He has been convicted previously of at least 10 felonies in addition to the two others he now faces following his arrest in November of 2022.
Appearing before Special Judge Emily Mueller on May 11, 2023 Brownlee waived his preliminary hearing. Judge Mueller scheduled his arraignment for June 27 last year.
On that date he failed to appear for his arraignment and a bench warrant was issued. It was later returned and filed.
During his arraignment before District Judge John Canavan, Brownlee pleaded not guilty. That was later continued.
Count 1 accuses Brownlee on Oct. 29 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 accuses 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 said 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 left the road to the south side and was in the grass with air bags deployed.