Evers administration changes direction after appointing convicted felon to juvenile justice group. Appointee faces a trial in new case.

The Evers administration has reversed course on the recent appointment of a convicted felon, who is awaiting trial on five additional felony and misdemeanor charges, to the Governor's Juvenile Justice Commission.

Aundray Evans, 24, of Milwaukee, was a member of the 19-member commission. He was charged in September 2019 with five criminal counts including armed robbery, motor vehicle theft, possession of a firearm by a felon, cocaine possession and obstructing an officer. 

His trial is set for October 2022. 

After questions from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the appointment, the governor's office said Monday that the appointment was withdrawn.

“Mr. Evans’ appointment came at the recommendation of local juvenile justice advocates to ensure the state satisfied criteria required under federal law," said Evers spokeswoman Britt Cudaback. "As we recently became aware that Mr. Evans has pending charges outside the scope of the juvenile justice system, Mr. Evans’ appointment has been withdrawn to allow those proceedings to conclude.” 

Jennifer Ginsburg, who chairs the Juvenile Justice Commission and is the executive director of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center, referred all questions to the Evers administration. 

Evers re-created the Juvenile Justice Commission in 2019. It is Wisconsin’s State Advisory Group, required by the federal Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act.

The commission includes law enforcement, corrections professionals, attorneys, judges, mental health practitioners, and non-profit organizations dedicated to youth programming. One-fifth of members are also under the age of 28 when they are appointed. 

Cudaback said in order to receive certain federal funds for juvenile justice improvement, federal law requires every state to establish a panel comprised of more than 20% of members who are under the age of 28 and at least three members who have been or are currently under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system.  

That is how Evans was chosen. 

Evans has a history of legal problems

According to a criminal complaint, Evans and another defendant, Nicholas Lydel, of Milwaukee, allegedly went to the Walmart parking lot on E. Capitol Drive in Milwaukee on Sept. 1, 2019 to purchase a gun from a man they met online.

Evans and Lydel allegedly robbed the man at gunpoint, taking his Chevy Malibu, two firearms, wallet and cell phone, according to the criminal complaint. 

Six days later, Evans and Lydel met a second man at Home Depot on N. Port Washington Road in Milwaukee driving the Chevy Malibu to purchase a gun from the man, according to the criminal complaint. Evans and Nichols then stole the gun from the second man, according to the complaint. 

Later that day, officers pulled over Evans and Lydel in the Chevy Malibu. Evans fled on foot, throwing a handgun as he ran, according to the complaint. When he was arrested, police allegedly found 1.7 grams of cocaine on him. 

In 2014, Evans met a man on Miller Park Way in West Milwaukee to purchase a gun. Evans allegedly stole this man's gun. 

He was convicted in 2015, and given probation. 

The phone number listed for Evans in court documents was disconnected. Evans' attorney, Edward Hunt, did not return requests for comment. 

According to court documents filed on July 6, 2022, Evans has been following all court orders since his 2019 arrest. At the time he was employed full-time as a customer service representative at We Energies. We Energies said Evans is no longer an employe

Corrinne Hess can be reached at chess@gannett.com. Follow her @corrihess