Former Sutter County Judge Timothy J. Evans pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Sutter County Superior Court on a charge of drunken driving.

The arraignment for Evans, 65, had been scheduled Monday. But his Yuba City attorney, Richard A. Thomas, entered the plea Wednesday on his behalf, according to court records.

Evans was not legally required to appear for the arraignment and did not do so.

A prehearing conference in the case is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 24.

Evans was arrested shortly after 1:30 a.m. July 14 when, according to California Highway Patrol officers, he was seen driving erratically on Highway 20 near Township Road.

Officers Reeves Douglas and Jody Beck allegedly saw Evans' silver Infiniti twice stray onto the shoulder. He initially denied drinking but a breath test showed a blood alcohol level "significantly above" the legal 0.08 limit, according to the CHP.

Evans was booked into the Sutter County Jail but was released on bail a short time later when a family member picked him up.

It was the second time the former Juvenile Court judge had been arrested for drunken driving in 20 months. He was arrested in November 2006 at the Red Robin restaurant on Colusa Avenue in Yuba City after a restaurant patron saw him drive into a planter and a pickup truck.

Evans' could have been sentenced to four days' jail in the first case but did the time working for California Rural Legal Assistance in Marysville.

Contact Appeal reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com