A long-brewing controversy in the village of Clarence involving the administration of former Mayor Tommy Evans hit a head Wednesday with his arrest.
Evans, 52, was arrested by Winnfield police on warrants issued by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office charging him with four counts of unauthorized use of a moveable and one count of malfeasance in office. Deputies transferred Evans to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center Thursday morning.
Evans, who gave an address of 329 Greenville Drive in Clarence, is free on a $25,000 bond. He resigned as mayor on Dec. 24, 2018.
Sheriff's investigators began looking into Evans in February after the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office began audit based on complaints of possible improprieties. Auditors had located a utility trailer that was reported stolen from Clarence at a residence in Winnfield, Chief Investigator Greg Dunn said in a news release Thursday.
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NPSO and Winn Parish deputies searched a home belonging to Evans on Jones Street in Winnfield and seized a black utility trailer, Kubota backhoe attachment, John Deere Gator UTV and a Stihl pole saw, all of which were reported stolen.
Evans gave investigators several conflicting stories on how the items ended up at his house, Dunn said.
Also during the investigation, deputies learned about a $5,000 severance pay check given to the village clerk. Evans authorized the payment, but the clerk was not entitled to the money, Dunn said.
The Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Throughout Evans’ tenure, the town was in almost non-stop turmoil because of questions about how he handled the village’s business. Evans did not hold required monthly meetings, refused to allow aldermen or the public to inspect public records, changed the locks on Village Hall and didn’t pay bills.
Meetings were chaotic and sheriff’s deputies often had to be present to keep order. The village also was plagued by an improperly working sewer system.