Local man found guilty of drug dealing after nonjury trial
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
A tiny video camera planted in a confidential informant’s car failed to record an anticipated sale of heroin, but a Washington County judge Thursday still found a local man guilty of two drug-related felonies.
Carlos Delone Evans, 39, opted for a nonjury trial before Judge Gary Gilman and sought to throw out evidence, claiming there was no documentation under the Wiretapping Act that the district attorney had approved recording him.
The judge, however, in a six-page ruling, noted the police officer initiated his request in writing, which he provided to Evans’ attorney during cross-examination, and the law does not require the district attorney’s approval of the request be written.
Washington County Drug Task Force made an audio recording of the informant setting up the sale of nine stamp bags of heroin for $100 in early January 2016 along Murtland Avenue in Washington, and two police officers stationed themselves nearby. One testified the informant was always within his sight.
Gilman also found Evans guilty of another drug delivery charge filed in March 2016. The judge scheduled sentencing for Jan. 4.
Evans is being held in Washington County jail on unrelated charges of strangulation, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment filed in connection with an April 29 incident at Lincoln Terrace.