Albert L. Brown Jr., referred to as a “mid-to-low-level drug dealer” by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), and registered as a transient level 1 sex offender, returned to Lewis County Superior Court Wednesday, Nov. 19, to face allegations of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance.
The Class B felony is typically punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Washington state law allows for enhanced maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and $50,000 in fines for defendants previously convicted of drug-related charges.
During Brown’s preliminary hearing, Judge Paul Strophy set bail at $50,000 cash or bond, with standard conditions of release, citing an increase in controlled substance homicides and concerns about Brown’s warrant history and recent conviction.
According to court documents, Brown has had 16 prior arrest warrants issued. In August, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine after he was charged in March with one count of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance.
In February, Brown, 50, was charged with one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was acquitted of that charge in July.
According to court documents, Brown has earlier convictions for delivery of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of firearms, third-degree assault and multiple failures to register as a sex offender in 1998 and 2004.
He was convicted of first-degree sodomy in 1992 in Oregon.
On Nov. 18, Centralia police reportedly arrived at an apartment complex to investigate a civil matter. While there, an officer observed Brown exit a vehicle and “enter the west side exit door to the building after being let in by an unknown person instead of using the main door,” according to court documents.
The officer reportedly recognized Brown and knew he was on Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision for his August conviction. He alerted the DOC and JNET.
According to court documents, a JNET detective arrived with a K-9. The K-9 detected the possible presence of controlled substances inside the vehicle.
During a DOC search, a community corrections officer (CCO) reportedly located a magnetic black box containing suspected fentanyl in rock form.
The CCO allegedly found unused baggies, a black canvas bag containing a digital scale and “an abundance” of suspected fentanyl in powdery form, according to court documents.
Brown allegedly denied being the owner of the seized items.
Later, while being transported to jail, Brown “admitted his prints would be on the box so fingerprinting would be pointless,” court documents stated.
Brown, represented by Don Blair, is scheduled for an arraignment on Nov. 26.
