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.

A Lawrence man who was allowed to bond out of jail in connection with a fentanyl death was a no-show in Douglas County District Court on Monday after he had been granted numerous continuances in the case.

Mason Duane Robinson, 27, of Lawrence, faces one felony count of distribution of a controlled substance leading to death. The charge is in connection with the death of Angelyca LeAnn Cowdin, 23, of Lawrence, who died of acute fentanyl intoxication on April 14, 2022, as the Journal-World reported.

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.

Robinson was scheduled to appear for a status conference on Aug. 18 in all three cases but called his attorney, Angela Keck, prior to the hearing. Keck said he claimed to have had a flat tire. and she said that Robinson has always been in good contact with her and has always appeared in court.

Judge Sally Pokorny agreed to continue that hearing, giving Robinson a chance to appear without issuing a warrant, but Robinson failed to appear again Monday and Keck said she has not heard from him, which is “unusual.” When Robinson failed to appear, Pokorny revoked his bond and reinstated the $100,000 amount, issuing a new warrant and setting bonds of $2,500 in each theft case.

Robinson’s case has been continued numerous times for Keck to negotiate a plea agreement with the state and to prepare expert testimony for hearings. Each time that Robinson’s case has been continued, the sentencing of his co-defendant, William Martin Byrd, 36, of Lawrence, has also been continued.

Byrd was also charged with distribution of a controlled substance leading to Cowdin’s death, but he pleaded no contest in October to one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl under 3.5 grams,” a nonperson drug felony, according to his plea agreement.

In the plea agreement, Byrd agreed to testify truthfully against Robinson in matters surrounding the death of Cowdin. He agreed to serve time in prison and will not ask for probation. He faces between 14 and 51 months in prison, according to charging documents. The state believes Byrd has a minimal criminal history and will be sentenced to 20-23 months, according to the plea agreement. He has been in custody since June of 2022 and is scheduled to appear for a status conference on Wednesday.