JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — On Monday afternoon 31-year-old Mary Womack strolled into a Johnson County courtroom wearing black and white jail clothes to face a judge.
Perhaps, a new judge, but for Womack it was a familiar charge: driving under the influence. In fact, during her video arraignment the judge announced Womack faces a total of six new charges.
Court papers reveal that just after 1 p.m. on last Saturday Johnson County sheriff’s deputies arrested Womack as she drove along K-10 just west of De Soto.
Right now, no other details about the suspect’s arrest are known.
However, FOX 4 has learned the Lawrence mom has at least three prior DUI convictions, and now prosecutors have charged her with felony DUI, obstruction of the legal process, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, driving without an ignition interlock device and battery.
It’s not known if Womack’s 15-year-old daughter was with her at the time of her mother’s arrest.
Brennan Keller lives across the street from Womack and was surprised to hear the news.
“I think that’s shocking. Just because in your neighborhood you just don’t want to hear that stuff. It’s scary,” said Keller.
Womack was visibly frustrated in court and asked a judge to reduce her $25,000 bond, but the judge denied her request because prosecutors call Womack “a danger to society.” However, court records do show that she posted bond on Monday shortly after 5 p.m.
“You want to feel safe in your neighborhood and obviously when you have neighbors making those kinds of decisions, other people’s lives are in danger, ” added Keller, who along with another neighbor, say they saw a police officer sitting outside Womack’s home in a patrol car over the weekend.
Nobody answered the door when FOX 4’s Robert Townsend stopped by Womack’s home on Monday afternoon after her court appearance.
“I just feel bad for her daughter and wish her well, ” said Keller.
Womack has her next court appearance scheduled for March 5 in Johnson County.
