Kelvin Evans pleaded guilty in an Atlanta courtroom on Tuesday to stealing unreleased music and tour plans from Beyoncé, accepting a five-year sentence that includes two years in custody and the remainder on probation.
Evans had initially maintained his innocence and rejected a plea deal in April. One day into his trial, he changed course—a reversal that suggests the prosecution had strong evidence against him.
He was charged with criminal trespass and entering a vehicle with intent to commit theft. As part of the plea agreement, the criminal trespass charge was merged with the vehicle count.
The case began last August when choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue, who were supporting Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour, filed a police report in Atlanta. Someone had smashed the trunk window of their rental car and taken two suitcases containing hard drives with unreleased music and tour plans.
Evans was arrested in September and released on a $20,000 bond in October. The guilty plea on Tuesday ends the case.
