Posted on 07/03/2003 8:18:50 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Lawrence County man flees just before sex-abuse conviction
By ALAN MAIMON amaimon@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal MISSING Truman Evans Age: 57
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 170-195 pounds
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Last seen leaving the Lawrence County Courthouse in a red 1996 Geo Metro with Kentucky license 197-FRZ
LOUISA, Ky. – Waiting for the jury to come back in the Lawrence County court house, accused child molester Truman Evans told his family he needed some fresh air.
The jury then came back, but Evans didn't.
In his absence, the jury on Tuesday found the former Baptist pastor guilty of first-degree sodomy on a then - 7-year-old boy and criminal attempt to commit first-degree sodomy on a then - 9-year-old girl. He faces life in prison plus 20 years.
Authorities said yesterday they have no leads in his disappearance.
"Everything's gone cold" in the search for Evans, said Rob Garnes, a detective at the Kentucky State Police post in Ashland.
Evans, 57, of Louisa, disappeared from the courthouse about mid-afternoon at the conclusion of a two-day trial on charges that he forced the two children to perform oral sex on him in the summer of 1998. The sexual abuse occurred at Evans' home in Louisa, according to court records.
Evans, a former pastor at Bradley Gap Freewill Baptist Church, had insisted he was innocent. He had been free on a $50,000 cash bond since his indictment in March 2001.
Special Judge C. David Hagerman , who has not scheduled a presentencing hearing for Evans, issued a bench warrant yesterday for his arrest and ordered that he be held without bond if captured. Evans' name and photo have been entered into a national database, authorities said.
Rick May, Lawrence County deputy sheriff, said police "don't have any idea where (Evans) is."
Judy Evans, the convicted man's wife, declined to talk to reporters yesterday, but May said she told police her husband hadn't been in contact with her since his disappearance. Judy Evans had testified at the trial in her husband's defense.
John David Preston of Paintsville, Evans' attorney, said he had "no inkling" his client would just leave or where he was. Preston said he has worked as an attorney for 26 years, and "I've never seen something like this before."
Garnes said Evans told family members he needed some fresh air moments before the jury returned with its verdict around 2:45 p.m. He said Evans is believed to have driven off in a red 1996 Geo Metro. The victims' father reported seeing Evans headed away from the courthouse in the car along Ky. 32.
Commonwealth's Attorney Anna Melvin said she is keeping in close touch with authorities as they search for Evans.
Evans, who most recently worked as a prison guard at the East Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty before becoming self-employed, denied the charges from the beginning. "He's been very active in the defense of his case," Preston said.
On the first day of the trial Monday, the jury listened to a taped conversation between Evans and the mother of the children that was part of the state police investigation. During the conversation, the mother confronted Evans with what her children had alleged.
Evans told the woman he was shocked by the allegations and that the children may have misconstrued "wrestling around" as something more sexual.
Evans referred to a game that involved grabbing the boy's buttocks as a "guy thing."
"There's no way under God's Heaven that I would sexually molest the children deliberately," Evans said on the tape.
Both children, now ages 14 and 12, testified at the trial.
This wouldn't happen if Baptists allowed them to marry.
Sodomy? I thought that was a thing of the past.
"Hey, the defendant is going out the side exit."
"Yeah. Hey, you think he's guilty?"
"Hell, yes! Not much doubt about it really."
"Yeah. Wonder where he's going?"
"I dunno. Say, I hear he's gonna get life in prison, maybe with additional time tacked on."
"Bummer. He's probably pretty worried about that."
"Yeah. Hey, he's getting into his car."
"Wonder where he's going."
"I dunno. Maybe he's getting a burger."
"Sure. Well, he better hurry back. They're probably gonna want to lock him up for the rest of his life as soon as he gets back."
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