Kelvin Evans, accused of stealing hard drives containing unreleased Beyoncé music and tour plans from a rental car in Atlanta, pleaded not guilty to theft charges in court. The incident occurred during Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour last summer. Evans faces felony and misdemeanor charges and is out on bond.
Kelvin Evans appeared virtually in Fulton County court on January 7, 2026, where he met with his public defender before entering his not guilty plea. He said little during the hearing, and his lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Evans is charged with a felony for entering a motor vehicle with the intent to commit theft and a misdemeanor for criminal trespassing. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 11 for a case management hearing. He has been out on a $20,000 bond since October 2025.
The theft took place in July 2025 in Atlanta, as Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour passed through the city. Choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue reported parking their rental car around 8 p.m. When they returned about an hour later, the trunk window was damaged, and two suitcases were missing.
According to the police report, Grant stated that the suitcases contained 'personal sensitive information for the musician Beyoncé' and hard drives related to her upcoming show in Atlanta. The drives held 'water marked music, some un-released music, footage plans for the show, and past and future set list.'
An arrest warrant was issued about a week after the theft. Evans was arrested in late August 2025 for an unrelated parole violation but was not officially named as the suspect in the Beyoncé case until mid-September 2025.
