A man accused of stealing unreleased music from Beyoncé has been sentenced to two years in prison along with three years of probation.
The BeyHive can finally celebrate, as TMZ reports that Kelvin Evans accepted a plea deal tied to the theft of Beyoncé’s unreleased music. Evans was accused of breaking into an SUV rented by a member of Beyoncé’s team and making off with a hard drive containing unreleased tracks.
Much of the incident was reportedly caught on surveillance footage. Even so, Evans pleaded not guilty back in March and initially turned down another plea agreement. Investigators later claimed cameras captured him breaking into the Jeep just days before Beyoncé’s Atlanta stop on the Cowboy Carter Tour. According to WXIA-TV, that evidence would have been central to the prosecution’s case.
“While we believe the State had a very strong case, there are some parts that are circumstantial that a reasonable jury may have found a defendant not guilty, so that’s the basis for the plea recommendation,” the prosecutor explained.
Along with the unreleased music, Evans was also accused of stealing jump drives containing show footage plans, set lists from past and upcoming performances, and several tech items including two laptops, headphones, and designer sunglasses.
Although Evans originally faced up to six years behind bars, the plea agreement reduced his sentence to two years. He pleaded guilty to one count of entering an automobile, while a second criminal trespass charge was merged into the first. Reports also state he will not qualify for parole after being classified as a repeat offender. Ultimately, he received a two-year prison sentence followed by three years of probation.
The man accused of stealing unreleased music from Beyoncé has officially been sentenced to prison time, receiving two years behind bars along with three years of probation.
BeyHive members can finally celebrate, as TMZ reports that Kelvin Evans accepted a plea deal in connection to the theft of Beyoncé’s unreleased material. Evans was accused of breaking into an SUV rented by someone from Beyoncé’s team and stealing a hard drive containing unreleased songs.
A large portion of the incident had reportedly already been captured on surveillance footage. Still, Evans pleaded not guilty in March and initially turned down another plea offer. Investigators later claimed security cameras showed him breaking into the Jeep just days before Beyoncé’s Atlanta stop on the Cowboy Carter Tour. According to WXIA-TV, that evidence was expected to be a key part of the prosecution’s argument.
“While we believe the State had a very strong case, there are some parts that are circumstantial that a reasonable jury may have found a defendant not guilty, so that’s the basis for the plea recommendation,” the prosecutor stated.
Aside from the unreleased music, Evans was also accused of taking jump drives containing footage plans for the tour, set lists from previous and upcoming shows, plus several expensive items including two laptops, headphones, and designer sunglasses.
Evans had originally been facing up to six years in prison, but the plea agreement reduced that sentence to two. He pleaded guilty to one count of entering an automobile, while a criminal trespass charge was merged into the original count. Reports also say he will not qualify for parole due to being considered a repeat offender.
The Man Behind Beyoncé’s Stolen Music Has Been Sentenced
He will also receive credit for time already served following his arrest in September. However, because of prior parole violations and other alleged vehicle break-in incidents, it remains unclear whether his punishment will strictly be limited to the five-year sentence structure already announced.
“He is looking forward to putting this… behind him and hoping for a future where he can make money legitimately, be part of society just like the rest of us,” his defense attorney shared.
So far, Beyoncé’s team has not publicly addressed the case, though more updates could emerge in the coming days.
