Jury convicts Evans of second-degree murder

After about two and a half hours of deliberation, a Cape Girardeau County jury on Friday convicted Glen Scott Evans of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 34-year-old Sean Crow of Bernie, Mo.

Evans, 46, of Dexter, Mo., was accused of facilitating Crow's death by driving another Dexter man, 30-year-old Matt Cook, to Advance, Mo., for the purpose of killing Crow.

Jurors found Evans not guilty of first-degree murder but guilty of second-degree murder as a result of assault and/or robbery.

Circuit Judge William Syler, who presided over the case after it came to Cape Girardeau on a change of venue from Stoddard County, Mo., set a sentencing hearing for May 5.

Had the jury found Evans guilty of first-degree murder, he would have faced an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Second-degree murder carries a penalty of 10 to 30 years or life in prison.

Because Evans has prior misdemeanors, he is not eligible for jury sentencing, so Syler will decide his fate.

After the trial, Crow's sister, Shannon Smith, stood and hugged Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver.

"We're pleased with the verdict, and we feel that the verdict was appropriate," Oliver said. "We are happy to see justice served for Mr. Crow and his family."

After Syler read the verdict, Evans smiled at his attorney, James McClellan.

"You gave them hell," he said, shaking McClellan's hand.

Much of the prosecution centered on incriminating statements Evans made to police after Cook's arrest.

McClellan had sought to have those statements suppressed, saying Evans was too intoxicated and sleep-deprived to know what he was doing when he waived his Miranda rights and spoke to investigators.

"(I'm) disappointed, but we felt like we presented a strong defense," McClellan said after the trial. "We feel like if the statement that he [made] while intoxicated had not been shown to the jury, we would have had a better chance of acquittal."

In a statement emailed to the Southeast Missourian on Friday afternoon, Oliver highlighted some of the other evidence he and assistant prosecutors presented during the case that corroborated Evans' incriminating statements.

For instance, security camera footage showed Evans' car parked at the crime scene for eight minutes preceding the shooting, with a clear line of sight to Crow's vehicle, Oliver said.

He also noted Evans not only allowed Cook to stay at his home for four days after the shooting but also referred to Cook as his "buddy" several times in statements to police.

"I am very pleased with the jury's verdict," Oliver said. "...We have given a voice to the victim and his family; justice has been served."

While the jury deliberated Friday morning, Evans talked to his daughter, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University, about her schoolwork; reassured his family he would be fine no matter what the jury decided; and joined McClellan in complimenting Oliver and his assistants.

"You guys did a good job," Evans told the prosecutors.

His affable courtroom demeanor did not surprise his mother, Glynis Evans, who said her son "never sees a stranger" and had endeared himself to other inmates, who encouraged him and offered to pray for him when he came back from court Thursday evening.

"It just goes to show you, there's good in everybody," she said.

Glynis Evans insisted on her son's innocence and said she was willing to use every resource available to help him appeal the verdict.

"He is innocent," she said. "If I have to put my house up, I'm going to do it."

Crow's family left the courtroom shortly after the proceedings.

Family members were not immediately available for comment Friday.

Cook is scheduled for trial on first-degree murder charges in December. His case will be tried in Dunklin County, Mo., on a change of venue from Stoddard County.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Advance, MO