Opinion ID: 1788403
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Deputy Sheriff Justin Evans

Text: ¶ 4. On March 10, 2003, Deputy Sheriff Justin Evans arrested Michael Brown on charges of assault and domestic violence against Michael's wife, Alison. Shortly after the arrest, Michael's father, Judge Brown, called Justin Holifield, the adult detention officer, and told him to release Michael. Holifield testified that he complied because I have to do what a judge tells us. ¶ 5. Deputy Evans was later informed that Judge Brown wished to speak with him. When he arrived at Judge Brown's office at the Justice Court, he found both Judge Brown and Michael present. Michael apologized for his actions and admitted to Deputy Evans that he was out of line. According to Deputy Evans's testimony: Judge Brown asked me if there was any way we could resolve this. I told him that basically, you know, What do you mean? I mean, I got three charges on him. [I] [s]aid, You mean some kind of counseling, something like that? And he said, well, you know, [he] said, I need you to drop these charges. I said, I'm not going to drop the charges. And he told me that he had spoken with the sheriff and that it would be in my best interest to drop the charges. That he had just gotten off the phone with the sheriff. ¶ 6. Although Deputy Evans refused to drop the charges, he agreed to remand the charges to the file which essentially meant they would not be pursued. He further testified that, had Judge Brown not intervened, he would not have remanded the charges against Michael but would have seen them through. Later, Deputy Evans was informed that the charges had been dismissed.