The man involved in a fight at Iowa City’s Old Capitol Mall that left another person blind has accepted a plea deal.
Samuel Lavell Evans, 27, pleaded guilty to participation in a riot, a Class “D” felony, and is expected to serve more than five years in prison.
As part of his plea deal, two other Class “C” felony counts for robbery and willful injury causing serious injury were dropped. Evans will serve five years for the felony, the maximum allowable sentence for such a crime.
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The accompanying police listed Evans as a “transient.”
Evans allegedly joined eight juveniles in mall assault
In a criminal complaint, police alleged that Evans and eight juveniles committed an assault on March 18 at the Old Capitol Mall. They believe Evans “(Initiated) assaultive physical contact” with an individual. Then, Evans and the group of eight juveniles allegedly “knock(ed) the victim to the ground where they all punched and kick (the individual) in the body and head multiple times.”