Defense Attorneys for Charles Teeple IV Seek Sentencing Delay and New Trial Following Claims of Improper Juror Pressure

Lawyers for Charles Teeple IV claim jurors were pressured by a bailiff. Read why they are seeking a new trial in the 2019 Chatham County fatal assault case.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WTOC

Legal Challenge to the Jury Verdict

The judicial proceedings for Charles Alexander Teeple IV took a dramatic turn this week as his legal team formally challenged the December 2025 guilty verdict. Teeple was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, battery, and exploitation of an elder in connection with a New Year’s Eve assault on Wilmington Island. His defense team is now requesting that the judge reconsider the convictions and grant a new trial, arguing that the integrity of the jury's deliberation process was compromised by outside influence.

Allegations of Bailiff Misconduct

The core of the defense’s motion rests on statements reportedly made by at least two jurors following the trial’s conclusion. According to court filings, these jurors alleged that a court bailiff made improper comments during their private deliberations. The bailiff reportedly informed the jury members that if they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, they might be forced to remain at the courthouse until 10 or 11 o’clock at night. The defense contends that these remarks created an environment of coercion, forcing a decision out of exhaustion rather than a true consensus.

The Underlying 2019 Fatal Assault Case

The trial itself focused on an incident that occurred on December 31, 2019, at Basil’s restaurant. Witnesses testified that Teeple, then 19 years old, delivered an unprovoked punch to Bruce Helmly, who subsequently lost consciousness and died several days later at a local hospital. The prosecution utilized surveillance footage and 911 calls to establish that the attack was unexpected, while medical experts provided testimony linking the physical trauma of the assault to Helmly’s eventual death.