CHESNEE MAN RECEIVES 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR ASSAULT CONVICTIONS

A Chesnee man received a 20-year prison sentence today after he admitted to assaulting two people in unrelated incidents.

Edsel Bill Teague Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Circuit Judge Roger Couch issued consecutive 10-year prison sentences. Teague admitted to using a pocketknife to stab his 21-year-old son, Edsel Bill Teague III at his family’s Jonestown Road home in Spartanburg County on Dec. 17, 2005. The injuries weren’t considered life threatening. When deputies responded to a 911 call, Teague Jr. had the pocketknife in his pants pocket. The knife had blood on it.

He also admitted to hitting Tammy Brown, 37, of Cowpens, with a closed fist on May 17, 2006 in Cherokee County. Brown, who was treated at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center for a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder, called 911 to report that she feared for her safety because Teague had been drinking and she knew he had served time in prison before. The verbal argument escalated into violence moments later. Brown said Teague forced her to get into a car with him. He continued to assault her before he wrecked the car on Oakdale Road.

Edsel Bill Teague Jr.’s criminal record includes a voluntary manslaughter conviction.

"Spartanburg and Cherokee counties are safer places with Mr. Teague behind bars," Assistant Solicitor Bob Coler said. "He has proven his inability to conform to the laws of our state."