Convicted felon in Bradenton charged with trafficking heroin, methamphetamine

BRADENTON -- A convicted felon refused to appear before a judge Thursday afternoon to face multiple drug and weapons charges.

David Evans, 34, was arrested Tuesday and charged with armed trafficking of methamphetamine, trafficking in heroin, two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, violation of probation, trafficking in amphetamine, trafficking in oxycodone, trafficking in meth, possession of methadone with intent to sell, possession of clonazepam, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of alprazolam, possession of suboxone with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. He was held without bond at the Manatee County jail.

Evans had a warrant for his arrest on violation of probation for a burglary conviction when he was spotted in the 800 block of 17th Street Court East in Bradenton by deputies. He and Timothy Shawn Carpenter, who was in the car with him, got out of the vehicle and ran.

Deputies were able to track Carpenter and arrest him on charges of burglary, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and a violation of probation out of Sarasota, but Evans had remained at large.

On Tuesday, deputies showed up at Evans' father's home where he lives and heard noises from the attic as they knocked on the back door and announced themselves, according to an arrest report. Moments later, his father came to the door, told deputies he didn't know if Evans was home and allowed them to search.

Deputies went upstairs and heard noise coming from a small hole in the wall covered by a picture. Deputies pulled the picture off the wall and found Evans hiding in a crawl space, according to the report.

Deputies pulled Evans out and arrested him.

When deputies searched

Evans, they found bags containing 30.2 grams of crystal meth and $1,020 in cash, the report states.

Deputies also found nearby a loaded .45-caliber handgun and a 9 mm caliber handgun.

Before finding Evans, deputies found more guns and jewelry. When the deputies ran the serial numbers, two weapons, including an AR-15 rifle, came back reported stolen.

On Thursday afternoon, Evans refused to appear before Senior Circuit Judge Lee Haworth.

"Well, this is an armed trafficking charge," Haworth said. "We'll keep it as no bond."

Haworth also granted the State Attorney's Office request for a Nebbia hold, meaning Evans must prove any money to post bond did not come as a result of illegal activities before he could be released from jail.

The Public Defender's Office was appointed to represent Evans after he reported having no assets or income.

Evans was released from prison April 19, after serving two years of a three-year sentence for a burglary of an occupied dwelling conviction. He is still serving probation for this conviction.

In 2005, Evans was released after serving five years and three months of a six-year, seven-month sentence for a 1999 conviction for attempted burglary of an occupied dwelling.

Evans' criminal record also includes prior convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, attempted burglary of a dwelling of a dwelling and giving false identification to law enforcement.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941- 745-7040. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Convicted felon in Bradenton charged with trafficking heroin, methamphetamine ."