IW Sheriff’s Office employee indicted on rape charge

Published 3:52 pm Monday, March 9, 2020

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ISLE OF WIGHT

julian evans

Julian Evans

Earlier today, an Isle of Wight County grand jury indicted Julian D. Evans in reference to a Virginia State Police investigation that began last year. Evans, 50, of Smithfield, is charged with one count of rape, with the victim having mental incapacity or helplessness.

Evans, up through September 2019, had been serving as a captain in the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office, and as a member of the department’s command staff. A press release Isle of Wight County Sheriff James Clarke Jr. had issued on Friday, Sept. 6 had stated that Evans had been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the VSP’s investigation.

According to Sgt. Michelle Anaya, spokeswoman for the VSP, the alleged crime occurred earlier in 2019. Lt. Tommy Potter, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said on Monday afternoon that he had not yet seen the press release from the VSP regarding the indictment, nor discussed the matter with Sheriff Clarke, and therefore, could not comment on the matter. As such, it is unclear if Evans is still officially employed by the sheriff’s office.

The Sussex County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office has been appointed to serve as a special prosecutor for this matter.

Evans is in custody without bond at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.

[Editor’s note: The last sentence is an update from the posting on Monday.]