SHERIFF EVANS: GRANT ALLEGATIONS 'FALSE'

Hostettler Refuses To Back Down

TOWANDA -- Bradford County Sheriff Steve Evans insisted Wednesday
that allegations he misrepresented his office to obtain a federal
anti-drug grant were "absolutely false" and "totally irresponsible."

He also said the $246,000 federal grant is being used to fight the
area's methamphetamine problem "on several fronts," and that his
office has the authority to make arrests in drug-related cases.

Evans was responding to allegations made by former Troy police Chief
Greg Hostettler. Hostettler is a candidate for sheriff, running
against Evans in the May primary election.

When asked Wednesday if he wished to respond to the sheriff's
contentions, Hostettler said he stands by his statements that
appeared in a story published by The Daily Review that day.

Evans insisted in a prepared statement that the grant money is being
used to fight the methamphetamine problem, and that other law
enforcement agencies and emergency responders can benefit from it if
needed. "I am shocked and appalled at the outrageous and totally
false accusations...," Evans wrote. "I, in no manner whatsoever,
misrepresented the sheriff's office..."

In the Wednesday story, Hostettler contended that Evans obtained the
money to create the infrastructure for a countywide police force --
something the challenger contended would be a duplication of
services, because of the state police and the state attorney general's office.

Hostettler also insisted that the Bradford County Sheriff's Office
has been prohibited from investigating methamphetamine cases by the
Bradford County District Attorney's Office and the Pennsylvania
Attorney General's Office since 2004.

However, on Wednesday, Evans said in an interview that his office can
still make drug-related arrests, pointing out the case of Jennifer
Nobles of Gillett, a former kitchen employee at the Bradford County
jail, who was arrested by the sheriff's office on charges of
smuggling drugs to inmates at the facility. Evans said Nobles pleaded
guilty to the charges about two weeks ago in Bradford County Court.

In 2004, Evans continued, he was informed by the district attorney
that his office could no longer file cases independently. Evans said
that the sheriff's department continued working with the attorney
general's office through September 2006. Around that time, Evans
said, the attorney general's office informed him that it would
temporarily not be using deputies for its drug investigations.

Hostettler said Wednesday he stands by his original contentions
concerning the role of the sheriff's office -- that it is prohibited
from filing criminal cases with the attorney general or the district
attorney because of cases filed in the state Supreme Court. However,
Evans countered that one case -- involving Corey Dobbins of Troy --
is pending and has not yet been decided by the Supreme Court. In the
case, Dobbins is challenging an arrest made by Bradford County
sheriff's deputies who charged him with operating a methamphetamine lab.

Hostettler also contended that thousands of dollars in equipment
purchased via the grant has been earmarked for the sheriff's
deputies. Evans, however, insisted that the equipment is available
for use by other law enforcement and emergency responders. The
sheriff pointed out that a portable light tower -- valued at $4,100
- -- is being stored at the Greater Valley EMS facility, and the local
emergency crews have been instructed in its use.

"They're more than welcome to use it," Evans said about the tower.

Concerning Evans' statements that his office has been working for
about the past six months with the Federal Drug Enforcement
Administration on methamphetamine enforcement, Hostettler said that
it's fine the sheriff's department is turning such information over
to federal authorities. However, Hostettler continued, this does not
mean that the sheriff or his deputies have the authority to make
drug-related arrests.

When asked about this, Evans declined to go into specifics about the
functions of his office with the DEA, saying only that he and his
deputies have been working with the federal authorities.

Evans also insisted that his office does still have the authority to
file criminal charges in drug-related cases.