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Name:
Evans, Toney Terrell
Date of Booking:
05/16/2026
Reason(s) For Booking:
Child Abandonment
Child Abandonment
Cruelty To Children
Cruelty To Children
Reckless Conduct
Reckless Conduct
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 May 15th, 2026, I, Deputy J. Burch was dispatched to [10 BLOCK] Lisa Lane in reference to child abandonment.
Upon arrival, I made contact with the complainant, [WITNESS #1], grandmother of the involved juveniles. Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that one of her daughters contacted her and advised that her other daughter, Kaniya Smith, was being arrested by the Henry County Police Department for Simple Battery. Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that she immediately left work and responded to [10 BLOCK] Lisa Lane.
Ms. [WITNESS #1] advised that upon her arrival, she instructed one of the children inside the residence to unlock the door, which the child did. Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that upon entering the residence, she observed and inside the residence without adult supervision. Ms. [WITNESS #1] further advised that she had been informed Toney Evans was with Ms. Smith at the time of the incident. Ms. [WITNESS #1] also advised when she arrived at [10 BLOCK] Lisa Lane all she saw in the drive way was Mr. Evan’s work truck. After speaking with Ms. [WITNESS #1], I made contact with Mr. Evans.
Mr. Evans advised that he arrived home shortly after 1700 hours. He stated that after parking his truck, he received a phone call informing him that Ms. Smith was being arrested by the Henry County Police Department. Mr. Evans stated that he contacted a friend to pick him up, then entered the residence and saw and ). Mr. Evans then advised that he then left the residence to retrieve the red Kia K4 bearing Georgia tag #[REDACTED], which Ms. Smith had been operating. Mr. Evans admitted that he left the juveniles alone at the residence because he panicked. Mr. Evans also advised that he did not go grocery shopping with Ms. Smith.
After speaking with Mr. Evans, I made contact with an officer with the McDonough Police Department. The officer advised that Mr. Evans was with Ms. Smith at the time of the incident and had also placed a 911 call regarding Ms. Smith. The officer further advised that Ms. Smith was arrested by the Henry County Police Department in reference to case number 2026-00050376.
When asked where the couple had been traveling from, the officer advised that Ms. Smith stated she resides in Griffin, Georgia, and that Mr. Evans is employed as a truck driver, with his truck also being parked in Griffin, Georgia.
Mr. Evans and Ms. [WITNESS #1] were provided the case number and advised on the procedures for obtaining a copy of the report. Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that this was not the first occurrence involving this type of incident. DFCS was contacted, and an intake report was completed.
I later met with Judge Grubbs, who issued the following warrants for Toney Evans:
OCGA 19-10-1(B) — Abandonment of Dependent Child (Misdemeanor), Warrant #26-EW-003299
OCGA 19-10-1(B) — Abandonment of Dependent Child (Misdemeanor), Warrant #26-EW-003300
OCGA 16-5-60(B) — Reckless Conduct, Warrant #26-EW-003301
OCGA 16-5-60(B) — Reckless Conduct, Warrant #26-EW-003302
OCGA 16-5-70(c) — Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, Warrant #26-EW-003303
OCGA 16-5-70(c) — Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, Warrant #26-EW-003304
Judge Grubbs also issued the following warrants for Kaniya Smith:
OCGA 19-10-1(B) — Abandonment of Dependent Child (Misdemeanor), Warrant #26-EW-003305
OCGA 19-10-1(B) — Abandonment of Dependent Child (Misdemeanor), Warrant #26-EW-003306
OCGA 16-5-60(B) — Reckless Conduct, Warrant #26-EW-003307
OCGA 16-5-60(B) — Reckless Conduct, Warrant #26-EW-003308
OCGA 16-5-70(c) – Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, Warrant #26-EW-003309
OCGA 16-5-70(c) – Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, Warrant #26-EW-003310
[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:
There is a listed co-defendant in this case. Please see Kaniya Troynae Smith for additional information.
5/17/26
FIRST APPEARANCE HEARING HELD — TONEY TERRELL EVANS COMMITTED TO JAIL OR BOND
What this means: On May 17, 2026, Toney Terrell Evans appeared before Judge Adam Grubbs in the Magistrate Court of Spalding County for a first appearance hearing — the initial court proceeding after an arrest where a judge reviews the charges and sets bond. The case has been bound over to the Superior Court of Spalding County. Evans is accused of the following offenses, with bond amounts set for each:
Two counts of Abandonment of a Dependent Child (Misdemeanor), under warrant numbers 26-EW-003299 and 26-EW-003300, with bond set at $4,000.00 per count.
Two counts of Reckless Conduct, under warrant numbers 26-EW-003301 and 26-EW-003302, with bond set at $3,000.00 per count.
Two counts of Cruelty to a Child in the 2nd Degree, under warrant numbers 26-EW-003303 and 26-EW-003304, with bond set at $7,000.00 per count.
Evans can be released from custody by posting the designated bond amounts.