Battery behind bars

More than three months still separate Akeem Evans from his first-degree murder trial, but the 18-year-old New Iberian already has been convicted of a crime he committed behind bars.

Evans, who was indicted last year in the shooting death of gun store owner Sidney Long Jr., pleaded guilty last month to battery on an Iberia Parish Correctional Center employee.

The charge stemmed from a December disturbance in which Evans “grabbed and pulled” Diane Isaac’s hair from behind. Isaac is a jail employee who was taking a head count in E pod, court documents show.

When Evans was taken to court on the matter Feb. 19, he told a 16th Judicial District Judge he did not want a lawyer and was sentenced to serve three months, though he was granted credit for time served.

Evans, charged with shooting Long multiple times while robbing the 72-year-old man in his Center Street gun store in May, is being held without bond because he is charged with a capital offense.

The battery charge marks the second additional offense Evans has accrued since he was arrested last summer.

Shortly after his May arrest, Evans reportedly wriggled out of his handcuffs while awaiting transfer in police custody.

His escape prompted a lengthy manhunt in which the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office called for law enforcement assistance from at least two neighboring parishes.

Evans is one of three men charged in Long’s death.

Easton Francisco, 22, also is charged with shooting Long during the robbery.

Rickey Paul, 21, is facing accessory after the fact charges for reportedly driving Evans and Francisco to safety shortly after the shooting.

Paul is free on bond while Evans and Francisco are awaiting murder trials in June.