Hatter enters guilty plea on child luring charges
By Peggy Revell on March 15, 2017.
prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell A man arrested last year on charges of child luring entered a guilty plea Wednesday at the Medicine Hat Provincial Courthouse. A pre-sentencing report was ordered for Lawrence Oliver Evans of Medicine Hat, who was 54 years old at the time of the arrest. According to details stated by the Crown in court, Evans sent a friend request on Facebook using a false name to an 11-year-old Medicine Hat girl in February 2016. There was some interchange between them, with Evans initially telling her “we don’t have to have sex on the first meet.” There were exchanges of photos and further telecommunications. In late March, Evans offered to set up a meeting with the girl. The father of the girl attended the meeting location, as did Evans. A chase ensued, but Evans was not caught. Evans was subsequently identified, with police eventually executing search warrants and finding evidence on electronic devices of the conversations. Evans is currently not in custody, and will remain on release conditions until sentencing. Judge Darwin Greaves warning him that the actions were “repugnant” and no form of breaching the release conditions will be tolerated. Evans’ next appearance is June 6 at 1 p.m. No joint submission for sentencing is expected between the Crown and defence, so sentencing arguments are expected to be made at that time. 9-8
