Fugitive found hiding under sink

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 29, 2009

One of Covington County’s “Most Wanted” fugitives was found hiding under a bathroom sink in a suspected Walton County, Fla., meth lab Monday.

Acting on an anonymous tip, narcotics investigators arrested Charles James “Charlie” Rhodes, 30, who now faces two counts of possession of listed chemicals for the manufacture of a controlled substance, one count of possessing narcotic equipment and one count of a convicted felon in possession of a weapon.

Mike Gurspan, public information officer for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, said Rhodes was arrested at a Live Oak Street residence in Choctaw Beach, Fla.

Rhodes made it onto Covington County’s “Most Wanted” list after he allegedly violated his probation on unlawful drug manufacturing charges from earlier this year.

Rhodes’ girlfriend, 31-year-old Misty Singletary, was also taken into custody in her second drug-related arrest in 72 hours, Gurspan said.

“On Dec. 20, Miss Singletary was arrested by a Walton County sheriff’s deputy after she attempted to flee into a wooded area off Nelson Road in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., when she discarded a bag containing a number of chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine,” Gurspan said.

Like Rhodes, Singletary now faces two counts of possession of chemicals used in the manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of narcotic equipment.

Covington County District Attorney’s Office investigator Max Smith, who coordinates the “Most Wanted” list, said his office “appreciates the community’s help.”

“It doesn’t matter if what or where the community is, either,” Smith said. “Everywhere I go, people tell me they notice the (Most Wanted) people in the paper. We’re still getting good responses and are still arresting people.”

Rhodes is currently awaiting extradition from Walton County back to Covington County.

For today’s “Most Wanted” mug shot, see page 2.