A violent attack on a fellow Umatilla strip club owner could prevent Justin Evans from opening a new location in Milton-Freewater.

Evans, a former owner of Night Moves in Umatilla, recently resurfaced in Milton-Freewater as abruptly as he departed from Umatilla.

After Evans failed to renew his Umatilla business license by the July 2014 deadline, city officials were led to believe he was leaving the country.

“It was mysterious, but we didn’t delve into it,” Ward said.

Although Evans never publicly announced an official reason for leaving Umatilla, his legal troubles at the time would have made international travel difficult.

According to a Hermiston Police Department report, Evans attacked Steve Bunn, the owner of Umatilla strip club Honey Bunnz Hideaway, at the Hermiston Wal-Mart Feb. 24, 2014.

“Security video showed Evans attack Bunn from behind, taking him to the ground while punching and kicking him,” the report states. “Bunn stated Evans picked up a spray can Bunn had purchased and hit him in the back of the head an unknown amount of times.”

On March 12, 2014, Evans turned himself in at the Hermiston Safety Center, where he was issued a citation for charges of fourth degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and physical harassment.

After he was found guilty of all three counts Jan. 28, 2015, Evans was sentenced to 30 days in jail and nine years probation.

Despite being months removed from Evans’ conviction, his motives for attacking Bunn remain unclear.

Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston wrote in an email that Evans didn’t talk with authorities when he turned himself in. And in an interview with the East Oregonian, Bunn said he’s still uncertain as to why Evans attacked him.

Bunn said he was still months away from opening Honey Bunnz and had kept that information close to the vest. Bunn also said he was acquainted with Evans but didn’t share a personal history with him.

Evans to did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

With Umatilla not an option due to its temporary ban on strip clubs, Evans applied to reopen Night Moves at 15 N. Columbia St. in Milton-Freewater.

According to a business license application dated June 23, Evans planned to open a “juice bar with exotic entertainment” and employ three people. Often, the dancers themselves work as private contractors.

Evans listed a Madras address in his application.

While Milton-Freewater doesn’t require conditional approval to open a strip club, City Manager Linda Hall said the city denied his business license application Wednesday.

Although she declined to give the exact reason why the city denied the application, Hall said staff was not aware of Evans’ conviction before the East Oregonian contacted her Wednesday.

Hall anticipates Evans will file an appeal to the city’s decision, which will be considered by Hall. If Hall upholds the city’s decision, Evans can appeal her ruling to the Milton-Freewater City Council.

Hall said an appeal must be filed within 10 days of the city’s rejection, giving Evans until Aug. 7 to submit his appeal.

If necessary, Evans could technically make his case at the city council’s next meeting Aug. 10, but Hall anticipates the appeals process will take longer.

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Contact Antonio Sierra at asierra@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0836.