photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Mason Duane Robinson is pictured during a hearing on April 6, 2023, in Douglas County District Court. Robinson is charged with distributing a controlled substance causing death in connection with the fentanyl overdose death of Angelyca Cowdin on April 14, 2022.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Wednesday apprehended a man who has been charged with a fentanyl death after the man failed to appear at a court hearing earlier this week.

The man, Mason Duane Robinson, 28, was taken into custody on several outstanding bench warrants, including for failing to appear on the charge of distributing a controlled substance leading to death of a 23-year-old Lawrence woman and two felony theft cases. Robinson has been granted numerous continuances in his court cases.

Judge Sally Pokorny issued the bench warrants after Robinson on Monday failed to appear in court, as the Journal-World reported.

According to George Diepenbrock, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, deputies received information Wednesday that Robinson was in a Douglas County residence west of Lawrence. Deputies were given permission to enter the residence and located Robinson in the basement, Diepenbrock said. He was arrested without incident. The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted.

According to the Douglas County Jail booking log, the location of Robinson’s arrest and his home address are the same.

Robinson is accused in the death of Angelyca LeAnn Cowdin, who died of acute fentanyl intoxication on April 14, 2022. Since his arrest on the fentanyl distribution charge, Robinson has been charged in two felony theft cases while on bond. He is accused of stealing a Ford Focus on June 18 and a Chevy Silverado truck on July 6, according to charging documents. He was granted a $2,500 own-recognizance bond in connection with the June incident and has not appeared in court yet in the Silverado case. Robinson was released on a $100,000 surety bond in connection with the fentanyl case in January, according to court records.

“Deputies worked hard to locate someone who is facing numerous serious criminal charges in our community and has been evading the court system. We are grateful for their diligent work and for community members who trusted us and assisted with giving information to get him safely into custody,” Sheriff Jay Armbrister said.