Feds bust deputy

A former Catawba County sheriff's deputy is charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine in Catawba County, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal district court.

Brandon Lee Evans, 27, of Hickory, worked with the sheriff's office from Oct. 13, 2008, until Monday as a part-time bailiff in the courthouse. According to the criminal complaint, Evans conducted narcotics activity as early as 2008 through Monday, sometimes while wearing his uniform.

The complaint alleges he conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing at least five kilograms (about 11 pounds) of a mixture and substance containing cocaine.

Evans had his initial court appearance on Tuesday. He is being detained until Friday, when he will have his next court appearance, said Suellen Pierce, with the U.S. Attorney's Office for North Carolina's western district. Bond could be set at that hearing.

The criminal complaint by a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lists three other people, David Mark Lowman, Chucky Price and Jason Scott Cook, as co-conspirators. Lowman, Price and Cook were indicted on Nov. 19, along with eight other people. On Sept. 8, Cook's Claremont home was searched, and authorities found 13 firearms, including assault weapons. Investigators also seized 60 firearms belonging to Lowman.

According to the complaint, Evans accompanied Price on "drug runs." Price and Evans would get a sample size of cocaine, often an ounce, and go somewhere else to test it by cooking it into a cocaine base. If they were satisfied, they would return to purchase the full amount of cocaine, according to the complaint.

"Lowman has told Cook that he had Evans distribute narcotics to some of Lowman's customers recently in uniform and pretend he was going to arrest them," the complaint states.

On Monday, the ICE agent conducting the investigation interviewed Evans at the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. According to the criminal complaint, Evans was not yet under arrest, and agreed to answer the questions voluntarily. Evans said he knew Lowman for about two years, and became familiar with Lowman's drug operation during that time, according to the complaint.

Evans "admitted to participating in the pickup of cocaine from two different sources of supply on numerous occasions and making deliveries of cocaine to approximately five different cocaine distributors for Lowman with Price," the complaint states. "Evans further stated that he was familiar with the location in which Price maintained their stash of cocaine and gave (the ICE agent) specific details as to the location of the stash inside the residence located in Longview, where on Nov. 24, (the ICE agent) and others located and seized a quantity of cocaine."

Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman declined to comment on Evans' arrest, citing the federal investigation. Huffman did say that all employees hired by the sheriff's office undergo background checks, which would turn up something as small as a speeding ticket.

On Tuesday, Evans' parents expressed shock over the charge against their son, who still lives with them.

"It knocked us over," said his mother.

His dad, Charles Evans, described Evans as a good, family-oriented person.

"He'd give you the shirt off his back," Charles said. "He didn't do the things they say. He's not that kind of person."

Evans is one of three children. Charles said his son used to work at Joan Fabrics. When Evans was laid off, he went to school for basic law enforcement training. Although Evans only worked part time for the sheriff's office, Charles said Evans really wanted to work for the department full time.

"He loved his job," Charles said.

His mother said Evans had to ask her for gas money from time to time.

"If he really was doing what they said, would he have to take gas money?" Charles asked.

Both Charles and his wife said they are upset they have been unable to visit Evans in jail — visiting hours are only on Friday, they said, unless someone has been in jail for more than 48 hours, Charles said.

Charles said he plans to attend Evans' court appearance Friday.