By Meghan McCormick
U.S. Marshals have arrested a former school teacher wanted on child sex abuse charges.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Kimberley Heath said U.S. Marshals Metro Fugitive Task Force in Oklahoma City and deputies from the Eastern District of Texas arrested former Norman resident Brandon Wayne Brown, 34, Thursday afternoon in Gordonville, Texas. He was hiding in a relative's home on the Texas side of Lake Texoma.
Cleveland County First Assistant District Attorney David Brockman said Brown waived extradition Friday morning. He could return to Norman within a few days.
Brockman said prosecutors are looking to file additional charges against Brown.
Court records show Brown was charged Nov. 25 with three counts of child sexual abuse and possession of child pornography in Cleveland County. An arrest warrant also was filed the same day.
Brown allegedly molested a girl in June 2008, according to the charges filed.
Heath said Brown was a former Putnam City School district teacher before the charges were filed in November.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the girl, now 11, allegedly told her mother about the abuse. Norman police were told about the allegations.
Officers questioned Brown about the alleged abuse, and he denied abusing the child, according to the affidavit. During their investigation, police seized several computers from Brown's home.
"During the forensic examination of the computers, a black computer that was seized from the defendant's bedroom was found to contain approximately 310 images that appear to be child pornography," according to the affidavit.
Court records show Cleveland County prosecutors charged Brown Oct. 23, 2009, with two misdemeanor counts of threatening a violent act. Brown allegedly threatened to kill Associate District Judge Stephen Bonner and Assistant District Attorney Meredith Tipton, according to court papers.
Heath said the Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force had searched for Brown for several months in Cleveland County and was assisted from a tip that he was in the Lake Texoma area.
"Deputies and task force members were heading into a residential neighborhood when Brown was spotted in a vehicle leaving the area. Brown was alone when arrested and taken into custody without incident," Heath said.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
