BY C.J. MARSHALL AND JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITERS)  Published: January 28, 2010
Bradford County Sheriff Steve Evans announced during a press conference Monday that he will be stepping down from his position next month.

In a prepared statement read at the Bradford County Courthouse, Evans informed the media and public that he will resign as sheriff on Feb. 15 to take a position as senior security officer for Chesapeake Energy.

Evans also reported that, upon his resignation, his chief deputy, Clinton (C.J.) Walters will become Bradford County's acting sheriff. Under Pennsylvania law, Walters will remain acting sheriff until either: 1. The governor, with state senate approval, appoints a new sheriff for Bradford County; or 2. The next municipal election, which will be in 2011, for a four-year term, which would begin in January 2012.

"I have made my decision only after much deliberation and soul searching," Evans explained during the press conference. "I have given my heart and soul to the sheriff's office for over 21 years. After 18 years, I am so honored to have become Bradford County's longest serving sheriff in the 198-year history of the county. I wish to sincerely express my heartfelt gratitude to the voters of the county who placed their trust in me for five consecutive terms, starting when I was 29 years old. I want to assure those voters that I have not for one moment of the last 18 years taken that trust for granted.