By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Dylan Evans, the suspect in Grayson’s second officer involved shooting of 2024, was sentenced to ten years in prison last week, in a plea deal that saw the 27 year old plead guilty to seven of the 20 original charges leveled against him. This was despite the fact that Evans never actually had a gun when he committed his crimes. However, the fact that he claimed to have a gun on him at the time, Judge Rebecca Phillips explained, meant that his forced entry into the home he hid in during the June 21 incident was a B level felony, making Evans ineligible for probation.
Phillips said it was important to note that Evans “did not have, point, or fire a weapon” at police officers, or anyone else, even if that was the impression at one time. However, that didn’t negate the seriousness of the charges that Evans pleaded guilty to.
Evans entered an Alford plea of guilty to four counts of wanton endangerment of a police officer, each a Class D felony, with five other counts dismissed. Evans also entered a guilty plea to a charge of first degree fleeing or evading police on foot, to public intoxication on a controlled substance, and to the charge of first degree burglary, a Class B felony. In addition to the five counts of wanton endangerment, the deal also saw two counts of third degree terroristic threatening, two counts of second degree wanton endangerment, a single count of resisting arrest, two counts of menacing, and a charge of being a persistent felony offender dismissed.
Evans was sentenced to five years each on the four counts of wanton endangerment of a police office, as well as on the fleeing and evading charge. The public intoxication charge carried a sentence of 60 days. But it was the burglary charge that earned Evans the longest sentence – ten years.
It was also that charge that guaranteed probation was off the table for Evans. Phillips noted that even if she had been inclined to offer Evans probation on the other charges, “a burglary 1 means you can’t be probated, statutorily.”
While all the charges against Evans will run concurrently, for the total sentence of ten years, that sentence will run consecutive to any time he must complete for the revocation of his probation on two other felony offenses.
Evans was originally arrested on charges including attempted murder of a police officer after first responders, including police, responded to calls of shots fired on the afternoon of Friday, June 21. Evans fled the area as law enforcement responded, forcing his way into a home in the Dixie Park neighborhood where he barricaded himself in a bathroom before eventually surrendering to police officers. Officers with the Grayson PD, Carter County Sheriff’s Department, and Kentucky State Police were on scene during the stand-off, and two Grayson police officers, including Grayson Police Chief Tony Cantrell, were placed on administrative leave after discharging their firearms during the pursuit.
In other action Phillips accepted a change of plea from Terry Carter, sentencing him to 30 months of incarceration for his escape attempt. Carter pleaded guilty to attempting to escape from a penitentiary, first degree criminal mischief, and third degree assault – inmate assault on a corrections employee, each a Class D felony. Phillips sentenced him to 30 months on each count, to run concurrently, for a total sentence of 30 months. In addition, Carter was ordered to pay $300 in restitution to the Carter County Detention Center.
Phillips noted that poor judgement was obviously involved in Carter’s escape attempt, as he would have already been released if he hadn’t attempted his escape.
James Johnson also entered a change of plea in a deal that will see the Grayson man forfeit a home where he allowed drugs to be sold. As part of the deal Johnson had a trio of felony charges of complicity to distribute narcotics (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives) reduced to misdemeanor charges of facilitation of narcotics distribution. Each of those misdemeanor charges carry a sentence of 12 months, which will be probated, allowing Johnson to avoid further incarceration as long as he adheres to the terms of his probation agreement. Commonwealth Attorney Brandon Ison stressed the importance of the forfeiture as a message to property owners that the state will not tolerate the actions of landlords or property owners who allow the distribution of dangerous and illegal drugs through their properties.
Thomas Leslie also entered a change of plea in a mediated deal that will see him receive two years of probation, after he serves a 60 day sentence for contempt of court. Leslie entered a plea of guilty to violating a Kentucky EPO/DVO, with a charge of second degree domestic violence reduced to a fourth degree charge, and a charge of first degree wanton endangerment reduced to a second degree charge. Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
