Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrests

Date and Time of Release: 24 February 2015

Date and Time of Incident: 22 February 2015, at approx. 11:59 am

Subject: Assault With A Deadly Weapon Arrests
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22 February 2015, at approx. 11:59 am, Officers from the Sonora Police Department responded to a reported large physical fight in progress in the parking lot of 420 Greenley Road. When officers arrived, they contacted several individuals who had been involved in a fight.

An investigation into the matter revealed three people had gone to the apartment complex to drop off a 7 year old child for visitation. During the child exchange, an argument between the biological parents, Amy Hughes, 27 of Sonora, and Brandon Evans, 25 of Sonora, began. The argument was regarding a phone conversation which had taken place the day before.

As the verbal argument escalated, Hughes’ boyfriend, Jason Arnold, 32 of Sonora, exited Hughes’ apartment and joined the argument. This led to Evans arming himself with a knife and brandishing it at Arnold and Arnold arming himself with a baseball bat.

Evans and Arnold decided they would fight each other “like men” and put their weapons aside. They then became engaged in a hand to hand physical altercation with each other, as several people watched. At some point during the fist fight, James Franks, 25 of Sonora, who had arrived with Evans, joined the altercation by striking Arnold several times in the head and body with a baseball bat.

Arnold continued fighting with Evans, even after he had been struck by Franks with the baseball bat. Arnold finally pinned Evans to the ground. At this point Hughes picked up the baseball bat and struck Evans several times. Hughes was joined by, Cheryl Howell, 57 of Sonora, who also started hitting Evans with a small baseball bat or wooden club.

All the involved parties suffered injuries as a result of the melee. Medics were called to the scene to triage the involved individuals. Arnold and Howell were transported to Sonora Regional Medical Center by ambulance for treatment. Arnold sustained a large laceration to his head requiring several staples, while Howell’s injuries were more minor. The other three individuals were treated at the scene and released.

After all five were treated for their injuries, they were transported to the Tuolumne County Jail. Hughes, Howell, Franks and Arnold were booked for felony assault with a deadly weapon. Hughes was also booked for felony assault on an ex cohabitant. Evans was booked for brandishing a deadly weapon.