A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to stabbing another person in the throat over a dispute about who was next in line at a convenience store.
Frank Arthur Lawson, 64, admitted to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The Convenience Store Stabbing Incident
The incident occurred in June 2023 at a Spinx convenience store in Greenville County, South Carolina. Lawson and an unnamed male victim were involved in a disagreement while waiting in the checkout line. Lawson, reportedly frustrated over the dispute, pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the throat.
The victim survived the attack thanks to the prompt medical attention he received from Greenville EMS and hospital staff. Authorities later confirmed that the victim was unarmed during the altercation and narrowly avoided death due to the quick response of first responders and medical personnel.
Lawson’s Criminal History
Frank Lawson’s criminal record dates back to the 1980s in Greenville County. He has a history of violent offenses, including a 1989 conviction for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. In 2018, he was convicted of receiving stolen goods valued at $2,000 or less.
Despite his prior criminal background, Lawson’s actions in the convenience store marked a particularly violent escalation.
The Sentencing and Legal Consequences
At his sentencing hearing, Lawson pled guilty to the charges, and Judge sentenced him to 17 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. This sentence reflects the severity of the crime, which was committed over a trivial matter—who was next in line at a store.
The judge’s decision highlights the state’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for violent crimes, especially those that could have easily led to death.
The stabbing incident at the Spinx convenience store serves as a grim reminder of how seemingly minor disagreements can escalate into violent confrontations with life-threatening consequences.
Lawson’s actions were both reckless and violent, and the victim’s survival is largely due to the quick medical response he received. Lawson will now serve 17 years in prison, hopefully providing a measure of justice for the victim and sending a clear message about the consequences of violent behavior.
