Suspect Who Missed Court Was in Custody in Another County

A warrant was issued for a Beatrice man that failed to appear in Gage County District Court as scheduled. It turned out, that man was incarcerated in another county. Logan Evans, age 24, was scheduled to appear in Gage County Court on September 10, 2024. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a class 4 felony punishable by two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He is also charged with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, both infractions. On August 4, 2024, at approximately 5:23 a.m., the Beatrice Police Department responded to a report of a 911 hang-up call. Officers located the reporting party who, according to the arrest affidavit, indicated Logan Evans was sleeping in a recreational vehicle (RV) that was “parked partially on a driveway and partially in the roadway,” and also that there was methamphetamine in the vehicle. The police sergeant that filled out the affidavit reported making contact with Evans, “I asked Logan for consent to search the vehicle. Logan stated he did not care if I searched but he could not give permission as the RV did not belong to him. I was unable to contact the owner.” According to the sergeant, a K-9 drug sniff was conducted, giving probable cause to search the vehicle, “Officers located nine glass smoking devices, four of which contained a burned white crystalline residue, I recognized through my training and experience to be methamphetamine. Officers located two digital scales, numerous syringes, butane torches, two containers with suspected methamphetamine residue, and three individual baggies containing 16 grams of green leafy substance consistent with marijuana. One of the containers with white crystalline residue field tested presumptively positive as methamphetamine. One of the glass smoking devices with burned crystalline residue was inside of a protective case. On the case, in big letters, was the name 'LOGAN.'” Evans was arrested at the scene and was later released on a $7,500 (10 percent) bond. When Evans did not appear for court, the presiding judge, Jeffrey A. Gaertig issued a warrant for his arrest. On October 27, the court received a letter from Evans, postmarked from the Department of Corrections in Omaha. In his letter, Evans explained his incarceration was the reason he missed court and requested a new bond.“Personally, prison/jail is not the place for anyone. Especially me,” Evans wrote. “This time in here has shown me it's time for a dramatic change in my life.” Evans also requested court-appointed counsel. Attorney Braden J. Dvorak currently represents him.This is not the defendant's first run-in with the law. On December 3, 2020, Evans was sentenced in Jefferson County District Court to three years at the Nebraska Department of Corrections, to be followed by 18 months of post-release supervision for his involvement with the homicide of Marc C. Jarrell, 28, of Lincoln, on July 1, 2019. Evans was one of five people arrested for the crime. Evans was not charged as an accessory to murder. He was originally charged with possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a class 1D felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison. Evans is prohibited from possessing a firearm as he was previously convicted of a felony and was on probation at the time of his arrest. In accordance with a plea agreement, Evans pleaded No Contest to a reduced charge of attempt of a class 2A felony, which is a class 3A felony, punishable by three years incarceration, followed by nine to 18 months of post-release supervision, and a $10,000 fine.

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