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Name:
Lanford, Andrew MacKenzie
Date of Booking:
12/26/2025
Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault – Discharge Firearm within a Vehicle Toward a Person (Prior to July 1, 2014)
Battery-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 December 26, 2025, at approximately 1908 hours, I, Deputy Aaliyah Nelson, responded to an Unknown Problem call at, [100 BLOCK] Mill Ct Dallas, GA 30157, where the victim called her mother and stated she was going to die and hung up the phone.
Upon arrival, assisting deputies Deputy Turner and Deputy Chumley knocked on the residence’s front door, but there was no response. Corporal Nolan and I staged on the east side of the home, where the garage and back porch were located. There was not any movement, but the lights in the residence were on.
During this time, Deputy Turner knocked on the door again, and the victim, [VICTIM #1], answered. Deputy Turner stated she appeared to have visible injuries on her face and legs. He also said she told them she had fallen down the stairs and was okay. Deputy Turner told her we needed to speak with anyone in the home, and she walked inside.
Deputy Nolan and I approached the front door, where the suspect, Andrew Lanford, walked out of the house. Mr. Lanford sat down on the stairs in front of the front door and told us Ms. [VICTIM #1] had taken pills and fallen down the stairs. We told Mr. Lanford we needed to speak with Ms. [VICTIM #1], to which he stated yes, but we could not come inside. I said that was fine, and he told Ms. [VICTIM #1] to come outside while he spoke to Deputy Turner and Deputy Chumley.
When Ms. [VICTIM #1] walked out, I observed that her face and legs had purple bruises and knots on her forehead. I also observed Ms. [VICTIM #1] to have red marks across her neck. I asked her what happened, to which she stated the incident started with pills.
She stated Mr. Lanford had given her a couple of pills before he took a nap, and she figured he was giving them to her to have. Ms. [VICTIM #1] stated she took the pills while he was awake and he was aware that she did, but when he took a nap and woke up, he forgot and got very upset. She stated, “That’s when he attacked me.”
I asked Ms. [VICTIM #1] what she meant by “attacked,” and she stated that he punched her and threw her around in the kitchen. Ms. [VICTIM #1] also stated Mr. Lanford bit her on her shoulder and starting choking her with his hands, then took her back upstairs where he messed up her things. Ms. [VICTIM #1] stated she didn’t want Lanford to go to jail. Ms. [VICTIM #1] did agree to writing a hand written statement.
Deputy Turner and Deputy Chumley spoke with Mr. Lanford, who stated that when he woke up around 1906 hours, he noticed Ms. [VICTIM #1] was very “hyped,” which he claimed was from her consuming his Adderall. He stated he then noticed it was gone when he tried to look for it. Mr. Lanford stated he went upstairs, started messing with the property inside the room, and then Ms. [VICTIM #1] fell down the stairs.
Due to physical and testimonial evidence, Andrew Lanford was taken into custody and warrants were obtained for Battery (Family Violence), Aggravated Assault by Strangulation and taken to the Paulding County jail. Photos were taken of all injuries and Mr. Lanford’s hands. I then went back into service.
[End of Narrative]
All information is sourced directly from the official, public court database. Case history is organized and curated by The Georgia Gazette staff. The “What this means:” explanations are written by AI and reviewed by our staff before publishing.
Court records are subject to change at the court’s discretion. The Georgia Gazette is not responsible for errors or omissions. Nothing here is legal advice. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case History:
1/15/26
ANDREW MACKENZIE LANFORD RELEASED ON APPEARANCE BOND — $5,700
What this means: Andrew MacKenzie Lanford was released from custody on January 15, 2026, after posting an appearance bond of $5,700 through Paulding Quick Bail. The bond was signed before Deputy Molly Weaver of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. An appearance bond means Lanford was released from jail on the condition that he show up for all future court dates in Paulding Superior Court. The bond covers charges of Battery – Family Violence (Warrant #253396) and Aggravated Assault by Strangulation (Warrant #253397). Failure to appear at scheduled court dates could result in the bond being forfeited and a bench warrant issued for his arrest.
6/17/26
GRAND JURY RETURNS INDICTMENT — 2 COUNTS FILED AGAINST ANDREW MACKENZIE LANFORD
What this means: During the July Term 2026 of Paulding Superior Court, a grand jury formally indicted Andrew MacKenzie Lanford on two criminal counts stemming from an alleged incident on or about December 26, 2025, in Paulding County. An indictment means a panel of grand jurors reviewed the evidence presented by District Attorney Robert S. Lane and found probable cause to believe the charges should move forward to trial. The case is assigned case number 26-CR-000494-P3.
Count 1 charges Andrew MacKenzie Lanford with Aggravated Assault under O.C.G.A. 16-5-21. Lanford is accused of allegedly making an assault upon the victim using his hands in a manner likely to result in strangulation — and allegedly did strangle the victim by applying pressure to her neck. Aggravated assault is a felony in Georgia.
Count 2 charges Andrew MacKenzie Lanford with Battery – Family Violence under O.C.G.A. 16-5-23.1(f)(2). Lanford is accused of allegedly intentionally causing substantial physical harm and visible bodily injury — specifically a visible mark on the victim’s face — by striking the victim. The indictment states that Lanford and the victim were living in the same household at the time of the alleged incident. Battery – Family Violence is a felony when it involves visible bodily harm.
8/17/26
STATE’S ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE IN LANFORD CASE
What this means: On August 17, 2026, Assistant District Attorney Christina Morgan-Young of the Paulding Judicial Circuit filed a formal Entry of Appearance in Paulding Superior Court, designating herself as lead counsel for the State of Georgia in case number 26-CR-000494-P3. This filing notifies the court and the defense that all future pleadings and official court notices should be directed to ADA Morgan-Young, and that any previously assigned prosecutor is removed from the case.
8/21/26
DEFENSE ATTORNEY ENTERS APPEARANCE — NOT GUILTY PLEA ENTERED — JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
What this means: On August 21, 2026, attorney Keenan Parsons of Keenan Parsons Law filed an Entry of Appearance in Paulding Superior Court on behalf of Andrew MacKenzie Lanford in case number 26-CR-000494-P3. Along with entering the case, Parsons filed a waiver of formal arraignment — meaning Lanford gave up his right to appear in court for a formal reading of the charges — and entered a plea of Not Guilty on Lanford’s behalf. The filing also invokes the court’s Standing Order motions (recorded June 13, 2024), which incorporates a standard set of pre-filed defense motions. Lanford is demanding a trial by jury.
8/25/26
CERTIFICATE OF DISCOVERY PROVIDED BY THE STATE
What this means: On August 25, 2026, the State certified that it provided discovery materials to the defense in case number 26-CR-000494-P3. Discovery is the process by which the prosecution shares evidence it has gathered — such as police reports, witness statements, and other materials — with the defense. This is a required step before trial and gives Andrew MacKenzie Lanford’s attorney, Keenan Parsons, the opportunity to review the State’s evidence in preparation for the case.
9/1/26
ARRAIGNMENT HEARING SCHEDULED FOR 9/1/26 AT 9 AM
What this means: An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Paulding Superior Court in case number 26-CR-000494-P3. At an arraignment, the defendant is formally presented with the charges against them and enters a plea. Because Andrew MacKenzie Lanford’s attorney, Keenan Parsons, already filed a written waiver of arraignment and entered a Not Guilty plea on August 21, 2026, this hearing may be a formality or may address other preliminary matters in the case.