Year in jail for 55-year-old convicted of child luring
By Peggy Revell on August 31, 2017.
prevell@medicinehatnews.com @MHNprevell A 12-month jail sentence and three years probation were handed down Wednesday to a Medicine Hat man who pled guilty to child luring, but then denied culpability — causing months of court delays. “This delay was caused entirely by the accused, for foolish reasons, in fact premised by a lie,” Judge Darwin Greaves said during sentencing of 55-year-old Lawrence Oliver Evans. Delays happen in court cases, Greaves said, but “not often do they get delayed due to a bald-faced belligerent display to thwart justice.” Evans pled guilty to child luring in March, signing an agreed statement of facts. According to these facts, in early 2016 he used a false name to contact an 11-year-old Medicine Hat girl over social media, exchanged messages, photos and even told her “we don’t have to have sex on the first meet.” Evans arranged to meet the girl but when he arrived, he was met by her father. Evans fled the scene but was later arrested. A pre-sentencing report was ordered following his guilty plea. He was to be sentenced in June, but the PSR found that contrary to the facts signed and agreed to in court, Evans didn’t admit his culpability in knowing the girl was underage. With new counsel, Evans affirmed the guilty plea Wednesday, and acknowledged he knew she was underage. The Crown requested 12 months — on the low end of the range — and three years probation. Mitigating factors include the lack of physical contact, no prior record and the case not going to trial. The victim was a “particularly vulnerable young lady,” said the Crown, so this means she wouldn’t “have to undergo the anxiety and stress of possibly having to testify.” Aggravating factors included the age gap, as well as the attempted meeting. Defence counsel requested a seven- to eight-month sentence, and called upon a local official with the Church of Latter Day Saints to testify on how LDS family services will be providing additional counselling to Evans. While Greaves praised the church for its good service, he cautioned them to take care in circumstances like these — and that Evans poses a danger to children. “Don’t lose sight of the other people in your care,” he said. Greaves sentenced to Evans to 12 months, allowing for 129 days of credit due to time already spent in custody. Evans will be on the sex offender registry for 10 years. He will face restrictions on accessing the Internet and being in the presence of those under the age of 16, including not be allowed being within the vicinity of schools, playgrounds, and other areas where children may attend. 16
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