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.