Man charged in 2020 manslaughter sentenced to 10 years

Former Boyd High School assistant principal Kevin Scott Evans who was charged with killing Ernest D. Medley while driving in 2020 has been sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Corrections Institutional Division.

Evans, of Springtown, previously pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter. The 415th District Court found that Evans’ vehicle was used as a deadly weapon.

In January 2020, Reno police officers responded to a hit and run in the 4200 block of East State Highway 199 at about 9:30 p.m. Ernest D. Medley, 51, was hit while walking on the shoulder of the road and died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

That same night, Evans was arrested after a Springtown police officer noticed that the truck he was driving on westbound SH 199 was similar to the description of the vehicle seen fleeing the hit-and-run scene. The officer stopped Evans, and his truck reportedly had front-end damage, a non-working headlight and what appeared to be human tissue on the front of the vehicle, which was later tested and matched Medley’s DNA.

According to a news release from the district attorney’s office, Evans said he had been drinking at the Azle bar On The Patio after work the day of the hit-and-run. He failed field sobriety tests when he was arrested. A sample of his blood was tested by the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab, and the results revealed his blood alcohol concentration was 0.134, which is more than Texas’ legal limit. Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission investigated and found that Evans consumed 8 pint-sized Miller Lite beers at the bar that evening.

“Mr. Evans had no criminal record and was, by all accounts, a model citizen prior to this tragedy,” District Attorney Jeff Swain said in the news release. “But, the decisions he made that night cost a man his life and his family the chance to have him in their lives. Our choices have consequences. In our view, that meant that he needed to go to prison.”

Evans was indicted in June 2020.

Medley’s family gave statements to the court during the sentencing hearing on the morning of April 3.

One of them was Della Mitchusson, Medley’s sister, who reminded the court that her family lost a father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle in Medley. Mitchusson described Medley as being kind, loving and giving.

“I hope you always, always remember Ernest Medley, my brother,” she said, addressing Evans in court. “We will always remember this. He left behind two underage sons that have to grow up without him. You are a good old boy from around these parts but made bad choices. One day we all have to be judged by our God Almighty, so I forgive and pray for you. I hope you pray and ask for forgiveness as well.”

Medley’s fiancée, Barbara Donnelly, attended the hearing and said she wished that Evans had gotten a longer sentence than 10 years.

“He took somebody from us that we love very much,” she said.

Donnelly said she and Medley had been partnered for seven years, and she described him as her first love.

“He could make his worst enemy into his friend,” Donnelly said. “He loved kids. He liked to joke.”

After the hearing, Mitchusson said though the court process involved in this case is winding down, the emotions over losing Medley will continue.

As tears gathered in her eyes, Donnelly said, “My family is broken.”

Swain said in the press release that Evans can be considered for parole after he serves at least half of his sentence.