5th sex crimes suspect heads to court

FOLEY, Ala. (WALA) - A fifth arrest was made over the weekend in an on-going sex crimes investigation in Baldwin County.  Although not related to missing teen Brittney Wood, family members said he is a friend to the family. 

William Bonny Brownlee, 48, was arrested Sunday in Baldwin County.  His charges include sodomy and sexual abuse. 

Although officials said the investigation started before Mobile County teenager Brittney Wood went missing, she is a common factor among all of the suspects. 

The four men arrested previously are all related to Wood, and investigators said Brownlee was a friend of Donald Holland, Sr.  Holland was Wood’s uncle and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after Wood went missing

Very few details have been released regarding the sex crimes arrests, and Monday was no different.  Brownlee appeared before a Baldwin County Magistrate for his bond hearing, a hearing where cameras were forbidden.  No new facts came to light, but the state requested and was granted a $100,000 bond on each charge: sodomy second degree and sexual abuse second degree.

The magistrate set several other conditions for Brownlee making bond.  He can have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family.  He cannot have any contact with children under 18.  He cannot possess any weapons, and he’ll remain under house arrest with electronic monitoring. 

Brownlee has until August 21 to request a preliminary hearing or his case will automatically be bound over to the grand jury.  His next scheduled court appearance is set for August 10.