The Associated Press has reported that the first court appearance for Damon Evans has been postponed. Evans was scheduled to enter a plea on charges of drunk driving, illegal lane change, and failure to submit to an alcohol test on Monday. On the request of his defense attorney, the court appearance has been postponed until early October.
Evans, 40, was forced to resign as athletic director at the University of Georgia after being arrested for DUI last week. The Atlanta police officer who pulled Evans over reported that Evans informed the officer of his position at UGA and asked to be let off with a warning. The officer also reported that Evans had a 28-year-old woman as a passenger in his car and was driving with her underwear in his lap. The married father of two has described the woman as a friend. The woman, Courtney Fuhrmann, was charged with disorderly conduct after repeatedly disobeying the officer’s order to stay in the car.
Evans must appear in court to resolve the DUI charges against him. He also will have his driver’s license suspended within the next 30 days because he refused to submit to an alcohol test when he was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. Evans could ask The Georgia Department of Driver Services for a hearing in order to ask an administrative law judge to reinstate his driver’s license, but he has only 10 days after being charged to file the request.
Under Georgia law, a person is legally intoxicated if they have a blood-alcohol level of .08 or above. The charges against Evans are misdemeanors. He faces a maximum of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Georgia law also says that those convicted of DUI must perform 40 hours of community service. Those with a DUI conviction must also undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and possibly treatment.
Related Resource:
First court date set for UGA athletic director Damon Evans (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)