Pubdate: Fri, 13 Oct 2000
Source: Florida Times-Union (FL)
Copyright: The Florida Times-Union 2000
Contact:  http://www.times-union.com/
Forum: http://cafe.jacksonville.com/cafesociety.html
Author: Terry Dickson

SHERIFF'S BROTHER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

Warrant Charges Evans With Violating His Bond

Federal agents arrested Sage Daniel Evans Thursday on a warrant accusing 
him of roughing up two television camera operators on the day his brother 
- -- Coffee County Sheriff Carlton Evans -- killed himself.

Evans, his brother and eight others had been charged with drug violations. 
Evans' arrest yesterday was for violating terms of his release.

Authorities said Carlton Evans took his own life Oct. 3, a few hours after 
state and federal agents came to his Ambrose home to arrest him on a charge 
of conspiring to grow marijuana and possessing marijuana with the intent to 
distribute it.

Sage Evans surrendered to the U.S. Marshals Service Thursday morning after 
a warrant was issued, said Pamela Lightsey, a spokeswoman for the U.S. 
Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

The arrest comes after the Coffee County Sheriff's Department took a report 
that identifies Evans as the man who attacked two television cameramen the 
same day his brother died.

Evans was accused of committed simple battery and criminal damage to 
property, Lightsey said.

No date has been set for a hearing on whether to revoke his bond and keep 
him in custody until trial, she said.

After an initial appearance last week, U.S. Magistrate James E. Graham 
released Evans and the other defendants on $25,000 bond with the warning 
that they violate no laws.

Raoul Garcia, a satellite truck operator for WSAV TV-3 in Savannah, said 
Paul Rae, a station camera operator and another satellite truck operator 
were in Coffee County when they were attacked by a man.

The camera operator was videotaping one of Carlton Evans' campaign signs 
beside a road when the man drove up in a truck, smashed a camera and 
attacked the operator, Garcia said. The satellite truck operator had to 
lock himself inside the truck, Garcia said.

Rae's injuries required treatment at emergency rooms at Coffee Regional 
Medical Center in Douglas and Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, Garcia said.

"He got beaten up pretty good and [the attacker] destroyed one of our 
cameras," Garcia said. Rae subsequently missed four days of work because of 
the injuries, Garcia said.

Garcia said he had his own trouble when he drove a station satellite truck 
to a point near Evans' farm. Some Coffee County deputies grabbed him and 
ripped his shirt, Garcia said.

"We exchanged some words, some information and then some more words," 
Garcia said.

Garcia said he was not injured.

Coffee County Coroner Neil Sims, who by law is acting sheriff, said he did 
not know anything about either incident or of any internal investigation.

Sheriff-elect Rob Smith is due to be sworn in Jan. 1, but state law says 
the probate judge may name a temporary replacement when a sheriff dies in 
office.

Among those arrested last week were: Evans' former chief deputy, Benjamin 
Hodge; Dewey Wayne Harper, a former captain in the department; and Evans' 
brother-in-law, Jerry "Pool" Powell.

Also charged were Lewis Gary Harper, Keith Allen Spivey, Brian Clifton 
Fussell, Dennis Franklin Griffin and Richard Davis.

Only Carlton Evans, Sage Evans, Hodge, Wayne Harper, Gary Harper, Davis and 
Griffin were named in the charge of possession of more than 100 marijuana 
plants with the intent to distribute it.
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