John Chiv: If the Sheriff's office is going to deny my request about a booking photo of an alleged molestor, they should get their facts right because he is no longer in custody

Oct 10, 2024

If the Sheriff's office is going to deny my request about a booking photo of an alleged molestor, they should get their facts right because he is no longer in custody

(charges Evans is facing)

31 year old Markus Evans was arrested on September 30 for serious sex crimes involving a minor.

The jail log isn't published until the next day and I did a post on October 1 and sent a PRA request for the booking photo right away.

Due to the Ninth Circuit ruling, law enforcement agencies have made policy changes. In the post I did about this change in policy and ruling on 9/27, the issues I raised have already occurred with this very first request. I have two other requests pending with HCSO and one with EPD.

I am not posting a photo with every post, I am using older booking photos when I can.

I got a response today. The first thing I want to say is that HCSO PIO Meghan Ruiz is the PIO. Due to this policy change, she is just the messenger and the person for contact. I have never had any issues with Meghan and she is doing her job professionally as she always does.

It is unclear whether this response is from records, Sheriff Billy Honsal or whoever is reviewing these requests.

The Sheriff's office has more access than I do and should know who is in custody and who is not in jail. Evans was granted supervised release on October 4.