FW: Document Going Around About Evan

[lnc-public_forward]

 

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From: Evan McMahon <evan.m...@lp.org>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2026 8:31:21 PM (UTC+00:00) Monrovia, Reykjavik
To: Entire LNC <entir...@lp.org>
Cc: lnc-public_forward <lnc-publi...@lp.org>
Subject: Document Going Around About Evan

Dear Colleagues and Members,

Recently someone going simply as Nicholas using a throwaway Gmail account has shared a document about me with a few people. I don’t think that is fair. I think you all should see it. Especially since it’s compiled from public records easily and freely available online.

I have attached that document to this email.

It outlines my arrest, (over) charging, and guilty plea to a heinous felony in 2003, almost 25 years ago. I encourage you to read it. It’s been about 10 years since I have read through it and rereading through the Probable Cause statement from the arresting officer brought both a laugh and fresh wave of anger over the ridiculousness of that document.

Here are some things not in that document that I think you should know:

1. I was very young at the time and had little experience with the criminal justice system. I foolishly trusted my public defender who told me I needed to take a deal as I was looking at up to 80 years if I was convicted. That wasn’t true, but it did scare me into it.
2. The judge, at my plea hearing, actually said that this seemed excessive for a first offense with heavy drug and alcohol use and wondered why it wasn’t referred to “drug court”. He then asked the prosecutor if there was an alternative. But under the terms of the agreement that my lawyer created… the state had to stand mute (essentially can’t comment).
3. I was blackout drunk and high on cocaine, which was not an unusual occurrence for me. In fact, it was how I spent most nights. I have virtually no memory of that night after leaving the bar to go home, which was also common. I do remember looking for my house, being handcuffed, and a cop yelling at me to wake up. I spent 14 hours in the drunk tank waiting to be processed as I could not blow the required .00 to be moved from the holding cell. That’s how intoxicated I was.
4. I took the plea agreement and plead guilty to the top count with a sentence of 9 years with 6 years suspend and to do the remaining 3 years on house arrest with an additional year of probation. The judge commented that he didn’t think I could do such a long house arrest without violating and returning to court. He was wrong. In those 4 years I never violated or tested dirty. I was always where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.
5. For 13 years I have been eligible to have this expunged from my record and a good friend wanted to pursue it for me. They even went as far as to confirm that there wouldn’t be any object by the state. But… I declined. While I regret my actions, the harm I caused, and my decisions… I am not ashamed of it. It has defined who I have become these last 22 years. It motivated my activism in criminal justice reform. Including passing out fliers at courthouses calling for a day of no plea deals and informing people about jury nullification.
6. Last year I was called for jury duty and both sides reviewed my case, asked me questions, and then found me fit to serve.
7. I joined the LP in 2010 and have been in some form of a leadership role ever since. I’ve managed campaigns, trained candidates and local affiliates, assisted state parties, served as Executive Director of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee from 2012 to 2016, elected to the LNC as an At-Large at the 2014 convention in Columbus OH, and have served as state chair of Indiana since 2021.
8. Getting in trouble saved my life. My addiction to drugs and alcohol was killing me slowly. If I had not received such a severe sentence, I don’t know that I would have taken it seriously. If I had just gotten probation, I probably would have stayed sober just long enough. Instead, I made my recovery through my sentence my top priority. I went to multiple recovery meetings daily for the first year and then multiple times per week after that. Without my conviction I have no doubt I would be dead. I have been sober since December 7th, 2003 with no relapse, ever. The ring I wear on my left middle finger I made from my 20 year sobriety coin.

I do find it sad that some folks are using my redemption story to try and embarrass me and discredit the positive impact I’ve had on the lives of others and this party. While also ignoring the tremendous obstacles I’ve overcome while continuing to move forward.

To the Nicholas with the throwaway Gmail account… You will not embarrass, bully, or shame me with this. I will not back down from the work of the Litigation Committee and I will not be stepping aside.

As has always been the case, I am happy to answer any questions about my conviction, my thoughts on criminal justice reform, and my 22 years of uninterrupted sobriety.

In Liberty,

Evan

Evan McMahon Secretary Libertarian National Committee evan.m...@lp.org ‪(317) 455-6986 lp.org