A Crawford County man pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 10 years, with four of them to be served in prison, according to a press release from the Office of the District Attorney.
Stephen Strange, 26, pleaded guilty to choking a woman at a Roberta motel in April.
Strange was also charged for several crimes dating back to 2016, which include misdemeanor possession of a drug-related item in March 2017 and driving while his license was suspended in June 2017.
Evidence shows two witnesses saw Strange on top of a woman, choking her at the Roberta Inn on April 21, 2018. The witnesses intervened and Strange shoved one of them and threw a brick at his car, which busted the window.
In February, two teenage boys were riding in a truck and passed Strange on a bike on Old Knoxville Road. Strange then swung a machete in a threatening manner along the side of the truck.
About a week later, Strange threw an empty can at a truck driving by on East Crusselle Street. When asked why he threw the can, Strange threatened to beat the boys who had been driving.
Strange threatened the same boys again at the Knoxville Store on Highway 80 in March.
In January 2016, Strange threatened an employee at the Knoxville Store. When asked to leave, Strange placed his hand on a holstered handgun in a threatening manner.
As part of his sentence, Strange is banned from the Knoxville Store during his probationary period.
As a part of his plea deal, Strange must:
- Attend anger management classes
- Undergo substance abuse treatment
- Pay a $1,000 fine and restitution for the broken car window.
