A Vandalia man charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon made an appearance in Fayette County Court on Thursday afternoon. 23-year old Jeffrey E. Taylor of Vandalia appeared for a preliminary hearing in which probable cause was found to continue the matter. Taylor is charged with one count of aggravated battery as information states Taylor allegedly “while using a deadly weapon, a baseball bat, committed battery” as he is said to have “knowingly swung a baseball bat at Stephen Taylor, striking him in the chest.” That count is a Class 3 felony, punishable by 2 to 5 years in prison. Taylor is also charged with one count of domestic battery as information states Taylor allegedly “knowingly caused bodily harm to Stephen Taylor, a family or household member of the defendant” as he is alleged to have “swung a baseball bat at Stephen Taylor, striking him in the chest.” That count is a Class A Misdemeanor.
During Taylor’s appearance, a second preliminary hearing was held and probable cause was found to continue for a second case involving Taylor in which he is charged with one count of unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine as information states that allegedly Taylor “or one for whom he is legally responsible, knowingly possessed with the intent to deliver less than 5 grams of methamphetamine. The count is a Class 2 felony, punishable by 3 to 7 years in prison. Taylor is also charged with one count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of unlawful possession of hypodermic needle or syringe. Both those counts are class A misdemeanors.
Taylor will make his next appearance in Fayette County Court on September 7 at 1pm for a pre-trial hearing in both matters. Taylor remains in the Fayette County Jail on $40,000 bond.