Man who failed to appear is found sitting on bench at courthouse

A Texarkana man who failed to appear for sentencing and begin a 10-year prison term Tuesday morning turned himself in Tuesday afternoon.

Charlston "Biggie" Brown, 35, entered pleas of guilty Monday at a hearing before Miller County Circuit Judge Brent Haltom to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to participating in violent group activity. Brown's plea arrangement included four- and six-year terms to be served consecutively.

At the request of Texarkana lawyer Darren Anderson, Haltom agreed to let Brown go home Monday for one last night with his family and to put his affairs in order. Brown failed to appear for formal sentencing at 9 a.m. Tuesday, and Haltom issued a warrant for his arrest.

Tuesday afternoon, Brown was spotted sitting on a bench at Miller County Courthouse and was taken into custody by Investigator Allen Fincher, who works for the local office of the prosecuting attorney.

Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black said the state will ask the court for a withdrawal of the plea agreement. As a habitual offender, Brown faces up to 15 years on both of the existing charges. Black said she intends to file a new charge against Brown for failing to appear Tuesday. Failure to appear for sentencing is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. That means Brown faces the possibility of sentences totaling 60 years, rather than the 10 he would have received had he shown for court as scheduled.

Brown's charges stem from a brawl involving dozens of people in October 2014 at Race Way convenience store on North State Line Avenue. Shots were fired after a fight that began between two men turned into a melee involving at least 25. One man was killed, and another wounded. Brown provided one of the shooters with a gun that was used during the fight.

Black said Brown is expected to appear Wednesday morning before Haltom.