JOSH TEAGUE “I will be exonerated”
TRIAL DATE SET FOR FEBRUARY
Felony charges, which were filed Oct. 30th by a local business against a former employee, were reduced in court last week to misdemeanors.
Joshua Allen “Josh” Teague 45, of 8th Street, Blackstone, continues to “vehemently deny” both accusations.
Teague appeared for arraignment last Wednesday, Nov. 12th in General District Court. An initial felony charge of Grand Larceny has been reduced to Petit Larceny, and a felony charge of Computer Fraud has been reduced to a misdemeanor version of that alleged offense.
Teague last week called the Courier-Record and described the reduction of charges as only a sneak preview of “how bogus these charges are against me in the first place. I’ll have a whole lot more to say in court. I am 100% innocent and will be exonerated.”
Both charges stem from a recent transaction that occurred at NAPA Auto Parts on North Main Street.
Teague worked for 15 years at the store when it was owned by Wright Auto Supply, which earlier this year sold its seven stores to Clarksville Auto Supply.
Teague said he visited the store on Oct. 24th — as a cus- tomer during business hours — to return a part, which he had purchased, and which he said was under warranty. He said he wasn’t seeking a refund, only an exchange for the proper part. Teague said a clerk was having trouble so he logged-on to the system to assist. Teague said he was surprised that he was still able to log-on.
Teague said the transaction went smoothly, that no questions were raised or accusations made at the store, and he said no one from the store contacted him with any concerns afterwards.
Then to his surprise six days later, Teague said, Blackstone officers were outside his 8th Street home to serve a warrant. Teague says he’s “still in disbelief over this” and is hiring a lawyer to clear his name.
An attorney review is set for December 17th, and a trial date is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026.
After the story of Teague’s arrest appeared on the Courier Record Facebook page after being published in our Nov. 5th edition, the post generated more than 70 comments supporting Teague, praising him for his helpfulness when he worked at the store and describing him as an honest person.
Teague this week said he’s overwhelmed and humbled by the support as well as his new employer “standing by me and believing in me.”
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