A Waco man who fled during his trial last month before being sentenced to life in prison was captured in Dallas by a fugitive task force on Jan. 23.
Randy Don Johnson was arrested in 2017 in the 500 block of Tennessee Avenue after Waco police officers spotted him sitting in his car while they were pursuing a fleeing motorist.
Officers said he smelled marijuana as he approached Johnson’s car and later found 232 grams of powder cocaine, 47 grams of crack cocaine and $9,600 in cash in the car.
Johnson showed up for the first day of his trial in Waco's 54th State District Court but failed to appear the following day.
With Johnson absent, the jury deliberated about five minutes before convicting Johnson of possession with intent to deliver more than 200 grams of cocaine.
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said the jury deliberated before assessing the maximum prison time for the first-degree felony.
Sheriff McNamara said the sheriff's office Fugitive Apprehension and Special Tasks (FAST) unit has been searching for Johnson since he fled on Dec. 17.
According to Sheriff McNamara, FAST officers from McLennan County received information about Johnson's whereabouts and contacted the U.S. Marshals Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
The officers then worked with the North Texas Task Force and determined Johnson was in Dallas.
"This was a collaborative effort between McLennan County and the U.S. Marshals," said Sheriff McNamara.
Sheriff McNamara said Johnson was captured and is being held in a Dallas jail.
