Melissa Taylor

Name:
Taylor, Melissa Leachman

Date of Booking:
01/08/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Child-Cause Excessive Physical/Mental Pain-1st Degree

Simple Assault- Family Violence

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On Thursday, January 8th, 2026, around 1125 hours, I was dispatched to make contact with the school resource Officer located at 519 Old Hwy-41 (Adarisville Middle School) regarding a student who was assaulted by his grandmother.

I made contact with Ofc. Alious Blackman (BCSDPD) advised me that the school counselor advised him that a student, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] (JUV), was struck in the face following an altercation between him and his grandmother that had taken place at their residence the night prior, around 1900 hours. Mrs. Melissa Leachman Taylor. He also advised that the Juvenile had a mark below his eye; however, he had not seen the injury for himself.

Ofc. Blackman provided me with the contact information for Mrs. Taylor, and I called her to inquire about the alleged assault against her grandson [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. She advised me that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] got into trouble, and she was sent an email advising her. She said that when he returned from school, he threw some items in the trash, such as homework and other documents regarding what he got into trouble about.

Once she discovered this, She told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] that he was grounded and he was gonna complete his assignments. He then became very disorderly and began speaking to her disrespectfully. She then approached him about the matter, and he was still being defiant, so she struck him in the face. She further stated that she has been dealing with him in this fashion, along with trouble at school, and she was tired of it, admitting that she lost her temper, but was not going to put up with his continued disrespect. She also advised me that she had full custody of [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I went to the above school location and made contact with [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. I did not ask him any questions; I only took a picture of his face, where I observed a very faint mark below his left eye. This picture was taken with my bodycam and attached to this report.

Before this report was completed, I was dispatched to [20 BLOCK] Cherokee Hills Dr. to assist a Bartow County DFACS employee. I made contact with Ms. [REDACTED] at the above address. She advised me that she also went to the school following a referral that was sent by the school counselor regarding the alleged assault on [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. She said that she also took a picture of his face and also the area above his left eye where a red mark was present that looked like an object, possibly a ring, had struck him.

She made contact with the grandmother, and she admitted to striking [REDACTED BY AGENCY] in the face, by first slapping him with her left hand and the right side of his face, followed by grabbing him by his hair and striking him with her right closed fist on the left side of his face. Mrs. Taylor also advised that she had a paddle that she struck him in the back with, but there were no marks visible. The story that Mrs. Taylor told Ms. [REDACTED] was similar to what she advised me; however, she did not tell me that she grabbed him by his hair and hit him with her fist, or that she hit him in the back with a paddle. Ms. [REDACTED] advised me that she had asked Ms. Taylor if she would agree to a child safety plan, and she said no.

I made contact with Ms. Taylor asking her to once again tell me what happened between [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and herself the day prior, and she stated that above statements that she had already told myself and Ms. [REDACTED], however she advised me about grabbing him by his hair and striking him in the face with a closed fist, and also mentioned the paddle she used to hit him in the back. I was able to get Mrs. Taylor, along with her Husband, Mr. [REDACTED], to agree to a family safety plan that Ms. [REDACTED] completed, and they both signed.

I advised Mrs. Taylor that she was under arrest for Battery (FVA) and Cruelty to Children, 1st degree. She was placed into two sets of handcuffs that were checked for fitment and double locked. This was due to Mrs. Taylor having prior shoulder surgery. She was placed into the left rear seat of my patrol car and seat belted in, where she was transported to the jail without incident and booked in. Following this report, warrants were completed by me and filed at the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.

[End of Narrative]

The information below reflects all details available at the time of publication and was obtained directly from the official court database accessible to the public. Court records are subject to change at any time at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors, omissions, or discrepancies within the docket. No information provided should be construed as legal advice or opinion. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Case History:

01/09/26

BOND POSTED

What this means: Melissa Taylor posted a $10,000 bond in Bartow County, securing her release from jail while facing charges of cruelty to a child in the first degree and simple assault involving family violence. The bond was set by the court and requires Taylor to follow certain conditions while her case moves through the legal process.

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01/13/26

BOND FILED WITH CLERK’S OFFICE

What this means: Melissa Taylor’s $10,000 bond paperwork was officially filed with the Bartow County Superior Court clerk’s office. The bond was posted on January 9, 2026, allowing Taylor to be released from custody while her case is pending. She is accused of cruelty to a child in the first degree and simple assault involving family violence.

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02/12/26

ENTRY OF APPEARANCE FILED BY DEFENSE COUNSEL

What this means: Attorneys James P. Blalock and Teresa R. Everhardt from Blalock & Everhardt Law Firm in Cartersville officially entered the case as Melissa Taylor’s defense lawyers in Bartow County Superior Court. This formal filing notifies the court and prosecution that these attorneys will represent Taylor in her criminal case involving charges of cruelty to a child and simple assault with family violence.

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02/12/26

MOTION FOR DISCOVERY FILED BY DEFENSE COUNSEL

What this means: Melissa Taylor’s defense attorneys filed a motion requesting the prosecution turn over evidence in the case. This includes police reports, witness statements, contact information for witnesses, and any recordings or summaries made by law enforcement or prosecutors. Discovery is a standard part of the legal process that allows both sides to review the evidence before trial.