BILLY PETREA JR. A 55-year-old Gaffney man was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Thursday in Cherokee County General Sessions Court for the assault and robbery of a local business owner he had known for close to a quarter of a century.

Billy Gene Petrea Jr., formerly of 15th Street, pleaded guilty Monday to the charges of assault and battery with intent to kill and armed robbery in connection with the May 7 assault and robbery of a man inside his Cherokee Avenue business.

The victim wasn’t present during Petrea’s sentencing, but Assistant Solicitor Michael Morin relayed that the victim was troubled by one simple fact. “He felt Mr. Petrea knew he would help him (out with a problem) if he him (out with could,” Morin relayed to the court.

During the incident, Petrea went into the man’s store and the two men, who had known each other for years, struck up a conversation.

Though Petrea’s defense lawyer claimed Petrea didn’t go into the business with the intent to rob the man, Morin alleged that Petrea picked up a piece of wood and struck the business owner two or possibly three times in the head and then took his wallet.

The 80-year-old victim suffered an open head wound that needed 17 staples to close.

Morin said deputies later found Petrea in possession of the business owner’s wallet. Petrea allegedly admitted to deputies what he had done.

At the time of the robbery, Petrea’s defense attorney said Petrea owed money to another man. “The (other) guy said he (Petrea) would either have to pay him soon or he would kill him,” the lawyer said. “That scared him (Petrea).”

The defense lawyer added that Petrea was very remorseful about what he had done.

“He wishes it never happened,” the lawyer said.

Petrea faced between 10 and 30 years imprisonment on the armed robbery charge and up to 20 years imprisonment on the assault and battery with intent to kill charge.

Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes, who presided over the case, sentenced Petrea to 20 years imprisonment on each charge. The sentences will run concurrently, the judge ruled.