Just-released gang member who went on two week spree of mayhem drops bid for pretrial release
A just-released San Francisco gang member who threatened a security guard with a gun, pistol-whipped a man during a robbery, punched his girlfriend in the face, and was arrested with a gun on his way to commit another robbery, dropped his bid for pretrial release this morning in court.
Eric Arques Evans’ two-week bout of mayhem at the end of November 2023 saw him brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler at San Francisco federal courthouse facing a one count indictment of ‘being a felon in possession of a firearm’ and probation violation allegations.
One day earlier prosecutors filed an extensive memorandum to support their insistence that Evans should remain behind bars which included an image of a victim’s bloodied face. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Chen described the defendant as “both a significant danger to the community and a flight risk”.
“Your Honor, we’re going to waive the right to seek release without prejudice,” said federal public defender Daniel Blank at today’s detention hearing. He also waived a preliminary hearing.
Evans will next appear before U.S. District Judge William Orrick on March 28.
Evans had been free for three months before the incidents in question, having served a 14-month federal sentence for a probation violation.
Prosecutors say that on November 22 2023, Evans brandished a gun during an argument with a security guard at his girlfriend’s residence. Three days later, during a robbery, he pointed a gun at two people sitting in a vehicle and pistol-whipped one of them in the forehead. Ten days after that, on December 5, he followed his girlfriend in to the lobby of her residence and punched her in the face.
SFPD officers eventually tracked him down on December 7 on Missouri Street in the city’s Potrero Hill neighborhood – a location he was forbidden to be – in a car with a woman. He was armed with a Glock 22 semi-automatic handgun loaded with 21 rounds of .357 ammunition.
Prosecutors doubted that the 60 degree temperature called for the ensemble Evans’ was wearing at the time of his arrest – a ski-mask, hoodie, jacket over the hoodie and gloves.
They speculated that he was on his way to commit another robbery.
A federal grand jury indicted Evans on January 23 2024. Probation officials also leveled allegations that he violated the terms of his latest supervised release.
In their detention memorandum, prosecutors endeavored to describe the complex tapestry of convictions Evans, 32, has accumulated.
These include convictions for burglary in 2014 (San Francisco), petty theft in 2015 (San Mateo), burglary in 2017 (Solano), discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and burglary in 2019 (San Francisco), being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2019 (federal), and a probation violation for associating with Zoo Block gang members in a car where two guns were found in 2021 (federal).
Appearing today in San Francisco federal courthouse for a detention hearing, Evans waived the chance to argue for his release. Yesterday prosecutors had filed a comprehensive brief seeking to persuade the judge that he ought to be kept in custody because he was a flight risk and a threat to public safety.
It is possible the the defense might seek Evans’ release in future.
The court was told that the defendant faces 51-63 months’ imprisonment.
Judge Beeler ordered the parties to appear before U.S. District Judge William Orrick on March 28 at 1:30pm.
The case continues.
To be notified when new stories are published, please enter your email address below or follow us on X.