A Morganton man who led Burke County deputies on a high-speed chase along Highway 18 North back in April is now on the sheriff's office's Most Wanted list after failing to show up for his scheduled court date. Kasey Holden Brown, born January 14, 1992, faces charges of failure to appear on all charges, felony flee/elude arrest with a motor vehicle, misdemeanor reckless driving, and misdemeanor resisting a public officer, among other infractions.
His last known address is listed as 4054 Corpening Bridge Road in Morganton. The warrant stems from an incident that unfolded months earlier, when deputies first tried to pull him over.
How the April Chase Unfolded on Highway 18
On April 10, Burke County Sheriff's deputies attempted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle along Highway 18 North near Hartland Road, but the driver took off instead of pulling over, according to The Catawba Co Informer. The driver spun out on Jay Clark Road and then fled on foot, leaving deputies to piece together who had been behind the wheel.
Investigators traced the vehicle to Brown, determining it had been loaned to him, and deputies took him into custody without incident at his Corpening Bridge Road residence later that same day, the outlet's report states. He was processed at the Burke County Magistrate's Office and released on a $15,000 secured bond, with a court date set for April 30. That court date is where the trail runs cold — he never appeared, triggering the failure-to-appear warrant that landed him back on the Most Wanted list this week.
The Full List of Charges From the Pursuit
Beyond the felony eluding and resisting charges, Brown's original case from April included infractions for failing to maintain lane control, exceeding a safe speed, and operating a vehicle with an expired or missing inspection, per the same account. Those traffic infractions accompanied the more serious criminal counts tied to the pursuit itself.
Under North Carolina General Statute § 20-141.5, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement in a vehicle jumps from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class H felony when two or more aggravating factors are present, such as reckless driving or speeding more than 15 mph over the limit, according to the Carolina Attorneys. A Class H felony conviction for eluding arrest can carry a maximum sentence of 39 months, with a two-year license revocation for two aggravating factors and a three-year revocation for three or more. All charges remain unproven allegations unless and until they are adjudicated in court.
How to Report Tips
Anyone with information on Brown's whereabouts can also submit anonymous tips to Morganton-Burke Crime Stoppers at (828) 437-3333, where verified information leading to an arrest may qualify for a cash reward, according to Burke County government.
