Oct 25, 2018 2 min read

A Centerville woman was ordered held for court last week on charges filed against her late last month by Centerville and West Brownsville police, in addition to new charges filed against her by Centerville police.

Melanie Austin, 54, of 250 Driftwood Road, was charged Oct. 15 by Centerville police with terroristic threats, open lewdness, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and reckless driving after she allegedly exposed herself to a woman who was coming to work at a home at 257 Driftwood Sept. 27.

The alleged victim told police earlier this month she saw Austin sitting in her vehicle at the entrance of the driveway at 257 Driftwood. When the woman started into the residence, Austin allegedly drove quickly down the driveway and parked near the front door, revving the engine.

After the woman went into the house, she said Austin started yelling threats before driving through the yard. The woman said Austin stopped by a shed, got out of her vehicle and lifted up her shirt to expose herself. Austin also was not wearing pants, the woman alleged. Austin got back into her vehicle, parking next to a springhouse on the property, police said. She went into the building, and when she came back out, she was naked, according to police.

West Brownsville police charged her with reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct after a traffic stop. She allegedly drove her vehicle at a “fast rate” toward a woman who was standing alongside a road before veering away during a Sept. 26 incident.

Additionally, Centerville police charged her with defiant trespass, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct for allegedly threatening a Denbo-Vesta Six volunteer firefighter at the station Sept. 27.

Austin is in Washington County jail on $12,500 bond. She was ordered held for court on the charges from all three cases by District Judge Joshua Kanalis. She is scheduled to be formally arraigned Nov. 29.