A Peach County jury returned a guilty verdict on Thursday, April 23, 2026, finding Janylin Tywon Smith, 25, guilty of one count of Rape. On the night of January 19, 2020, Smith, a friend of the victim, raped her following a game night held at her residence. Smith was the only male in attendance that evening, as the other women believed he was not attracted to females.
During the gathering, the victim and her friends consumed various alcoholic beverages as part of a group game, and she became intoxicated. She went to sleep, and upon waking, discovered Smith lying next to her and a used condom on a nearby desk. After going to the rest room, she found that her underwear had been removed and experienced physical pain in her lower body. She had not given consent to the sexual contact.
When confronted, Smith apologized to the victim via text message. In a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Smith admitted to having sexual intercourse with the young woman and disclosed that he had developed romantic feelings for her, despite her not sharing those feelings.
“I want every member of this community to see what happened in that courtroom today,” said District Attorney Anita Howard. “A young woman who was violated by someone she trusted, in a place where she should have been safe, stood up and told her truth. She carried a burden that was never hers to carry, and she carried it with grace. My heart is with her as she continues to heal, and my commitment to survivors like her will never waver.”
Law enforcement officers and various witnesses traveled from across the state of Georgia to testify at trial. Smith faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was taken into custody immediately following the reading of the verdict. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Taylor Wilson and Assistant District Attorney Hannah Frantz.
