Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a man accused of rape, assault and kidnapping in a 2016 attack on two workers at an Evans day spa.
Damione Evans, 47, is accused of committing rape, sexual battery, aggravated sodomy and kidnapping against one of the workers, who he allegedly dragged to the room where money was stored at the spa to steal the money.
The former Army captain is accused of kidnapping and aggravated battery against the second victim, who was left unconscious with a head injury at the South Belair Road spa.
As the case languished in the court system, Evans was free on bond for more than six years. In August 2022, prosecutors presented the court a 2021 video of Evans allegedly assaulting and robbing an Atlanta spa worker and his bond was revoked.
In an earlier hearing, Chief Columbia County Circuit Assistant District Attorney Natalie Paine said Evans’ alleged victims are particularly vulnerable in that they may not speak English or be legal U.S. residents.
Evans’ former attorney, Keith Johnson, asked the court for a mental evaluation and a judge ruled Evans competent to stand trial. Prosecutors offered him a plea deal in 2021 for a 25-year sentence, but soon after, Evans replaced Johnson with attorney Paul Howard.
In April, a jury would again find Evans competent to stand trial and Columbia County Superior Court Judge Sheryl Jolly would order a mental evaluation.
Howard, who presented a list of defense witnesses that included 15 law enforcement and court officials, sparred with the court before jury selection Monday, claiming DA personnel had blocked him from attending Evans’ mental evaluation.
Jolly told Howard to present a witness to back the claim, which he didn’t, or move on. Howard requested two additional jury strikes due to the nature of the case, but was denied.
During the selection process, Howard asked potential jurors questions such as whether a non-medical professional can diagnose mental illness and whether any had experience with surveillance video.
