A Woodland woman who struck her ex-boyfriend with her vehicle while they were at a party was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in the jail’s work-release program.
Brittany K. Evans, 21, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to second-degree assault — domestic violence; hit-and-run injury — domestic violence; hit-and-run property damage; and reckless endangerment. In exchange for her guilty pleas, the prosecution downgraded the assault charge from first- to second-degree.
On April 10, 2014, Evans hit Eric Potter, then 20, with her car after she reportedly saw him talking with a 17-year-old girl at the party and became upset, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Potter arrived at the party in the 15000 block of Northeast Caples Road and was warned that Evans was also present, court records said. Potter pleaded guilty in October 2012 in Clark County District Court to third-degree malicious mischief against Evans. He was ordered not to have contact with her, according to court documents. The two reportedly have a 4-year-old daughter together.
Potter told police that when Evans saw him talking to the 17-year-old girl, she turned her car around and drove directly at him. He said he had nowhere to go, so he tried to jump over the vehicle, the affidavit says. The vehicle struck him, and he flipped over the car onto the ground.
However, the 17-year-old and Evans told police that Potter had gotten into Evans’ car first and when he got out she hit him. Evans said Potter wanted a ride home and they argued. When he left the car, she said she drove directly at him and then swerved to try to avoid hitting him. She said she just wanted him to think she was going to hit him, court documents said.
Evans reportedly fled the scene before police arrived.
Deputy Prosecutor John Farra said that Potter suffered bruising and road rash.
During the hearing, an emotional Evans told Judge Derek Vanderwood that she is not a violent person and that it was an isolated incident.
“It’s been torture not knowing every day if I’m going to jail,” she said.
In addition to work release, Vanderwood ordered she serve a year of community custody and that her license be suspended.
