SHERIFF ACCUSED OF 'FUDGING' DRUG GRANT

Sheriff Steve Evans "misrepresented" his office in the application
for U.S. Department of Justice money that resulted in a $246,807
anti-methamphetamine grant being awarded to the Bradford County
Sheriff's Office, according to Greg Hostettler, a candidate for
sheriff in the May Republican primary election.

Hostettler, in an interview on Monday, contended Evans wanted the
money to buy equipment and conduct training to further what
Hostettler said was Evans' interest in establishing a countywide
police force using sheriff's deputies.

Such a police operation is unnecessary, Hostettler said, because the
Pennsylvania State Police and the state Attorney General's Task Force
in Bradford County already provide that service, especially for drug
investigations. To create another such operation would be "a
duplication of efforts, using tax dollars for services that already
exist," Hostettler said in the interview, repeating what he had said
previously in the campaign.

Evans, seeking election to his fifth term as sheriff, has been
pro-active in spreading a community awareness campaign about the
dangers of methamphetamine. He wrote in the grant application that
the money was needed to continue the fight against the illegal drug.
He added: "The problem that Bradford County consistently encounters
is cost. ... [W]ithout federal funding we will not be able to
accomplish our goals of eradicating this drug from our community."

Evans could not be reached before a newspaper deadline Tuesday for a
response to Hostettler's claims. Detailed messages left at his
office, home and on his cell phone were not returned.

In an interview last week, Evans was asked about District Attorney
candidate Bob McGuinness' statement that the former D.A. (McGuinness)
favored expanding the powers of the sheriff to conduct drug
investigations. Evans said, "We just want to help our county in any
way we can. We have in the past (served as a part of the countywide
drug task force) and we would be willing to serve in whatever role to
help our county."

The alleged misrepresentations, according to Hostettler, occurred
when Evans repeatedly phrased his written answers to
grant-application questions as if he currently conducted a police
force actively engaged in the investigation of illegal drugs,
specifically, methamphetamine.

That is significant, Hostettler asserted, asking rhetorically, in
effect: Why would the government award money to investigate drugs to
an agency that was prohibited from conducting such investigations?

The lengthy grant application, which contains acknowledgements that
the answers are true, and that false statements may result in fines,
imprisonment and disbarment from participating in federal grants, was
signed by Evans in August 2006.

But early in 2004, the Bradford County Sheriff's department was
prohibited by the state attorney general and the Bradford County
district attorney from investigating such cases, Hostettler said.

"He knows he can't do these things. ... He hasn't been involved in
any at all," he said. "What's the motive?... It's no secret in
countywide law enforcement over the years that he has desired a
countywide police force. ... He is not being entirely forthright,"
said Hostettler, who for many years was the chief of the Troy Police
Department.

The campaign issue, Hostettler said, boils down to this: "... He has
misrepresented himself in a federal grant to get money to create the
infrastructure for a countywide police force. There appears to be
misrepresentation to obtain federal funds. Am I concerned that's his
intent? Yes, 'cause I can't see any other explanation."

So, Hostettler asked, "Is a person who fudges, misrepresents things
the kind of person you want in office, who will have to testify ... ?"

Evans acknowledged in the application that his office "is not the
primary law enforcement authority in Bradford County." However, he
writes, "We have taken a very active role in attacking the
methamphetamine problem. We not only have investigated, apprehended
and prosecuted numerous meth cooks, but we have vigorously
participated in establishing and actively continuing our Anti-Meth Task Force."

Nevertheless, Hostettler said, what Evans did not say was that his
office had not had the authority to conduct such investigations for
about two years.

Among the claims set forth by Evans in the grant is that the money
would "provide law enforcement appropriate equipment to detect
methamphetamine manufacture." To "detect" means to investigate,
Hostettler said.

Evans also wrote: "It is believed we have done all we can with our
limited resources to fight the methamphetamine epidemic. This grant
is essential for our continued success."

Hostettler enumerated other sections of the application he said make
it clear the money is intended for the sheriff's office to conduct
drug investigations. They include requests for:

One 2007 Yamaha Rhino 4X4 utility vehicle to help transport equipment
and provide for "more rapid response to secluded crime scenes," plus
a cargo trailer to carry the utility vehicle. Total cost, $20,650

Six car-mounted and two hand-held global positioning units "to mark
surveillance locations, clan dump sites and locations of clandestine
laboratories in wooded areas." Evans points out that the Bradford
County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction covers more than 1,151 square
miles. Total cost, $4,600.

Five night-vision devices for "surveillance of suspected clandestine
laboratories." Cost, $19,000.

"One thermal imager for surveillance, detecting heat sources
associated with meth production, locating fleeing meth suspects in
remote locations and locating chemical dump sites." Cost, $12,550.

One portable light tower "to flood light over the entire meth lab
scene." Cost, $4,100.

One Panasonic Toughbook29 "for field operations including search
warrants, criminal charging and clandestine laboratory reports." Cost, $6,050.

Protective gear for hazardous materials handling, including haz-mat
safety suits and glove packs. The cost exceeded $4,000.

Under travel/training, the application repeatedly refers to "The
Bradford County Sheriff's Office requests training in ..." In one
instance, for example, it stated, "street survival for all personnel
in this office." The allocation requested for training, including
out-of-town trips to Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., and other
destinations, totaled $20,690.

The application also requested $30,000 for "deputy overtime
surveillance." In the narrative, the application signed by Evans
said, in part, "We considered requesting additional staff, but we
concluded it would be far more effective to provide overtime for
trained, experienced personnel to conduct surveillance after regular
work hours."

The resources are not being shared with any other police agency,
Hostettler said. They are for the exclusive use of the sheriff's
department, he contended. For example, he said, the car-mounted GPS
units all have been installed on sheriff's vehicles.

The application also had other components, including, for example,
anti-drug education for children and students. Coupled to that were
requests for money to pay for premiums such as school-dance or
sporting-event tickets, gift certificates and other prizes to reward
positive anti-drug behavior. The total for that amounted to more than $25,000.

Evans is part of a movement statewide to expand the powers of
sheriffs. It has been an issue around Pennsylvania for some years. In
recent years, state appeals court rulings have limited their powers.
However, the issue has not yet been resolved at the higher court
levels, where a case involving Bradford County is pending.

In addition, bills have been introduced in the legislature to expand
sheriffs' powers. However, they have not been enacted into law.