photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Evan Gauge Heffner

A bench warrant was issued Tuesday for a man’s arrest after he failed to appear for his sentencing for an aggravated battery conviction that stemmed from a shooting.

The defendant, Evan Gauge Heffner, 19, pleaded no contest to the reduced charge on Sept. 4 as part of a deal with the state. He had originally been charged with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly shooting a man on May 10 at the Motel 6 at 1130 N. Third St. As the Journal-World reported, officers responded to the motel just before 10:30 p.m., but they learned that no gunshot victim was at the scene. About 10 minutes later, police were advised that a man with a gunshot wound had arrived at the hospital emergency room. The man had been struck by gunfire in the shoulder and was able to provide some information about the incident.

In exchange for Heffner’s plea, the DA’s Office dismissed multiple traffic cases and a domestic battery case against Heffner. The DA’s Office also agreed that there would be no finding that a firearm was used in the aggravated battery case, which renders it a much less serious offense for sentencing purposes.

As a factual basis for the plea, Senior Assistant District Attorney Ricardo Leal gave a bare-bones account at the September hearing, stating only that on May 10, 2023, Heffner caused great bodily harm or disfigurement to a man.

Judge Stacey Donovan set Heffner’s sentencing for Tuesday. When he failed to appear, she issued a $25,000 cash or surety warrant for his arrest.