Marietta man gets 30 years for locking up, assaulting former wife

A Marietta man who authorities say locked his former wife inside his apartment and assaulted her for several hours has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Lee Elvis Veasley, 50, pleaded guilty Monday to four counts each of aggravated assault and aggravated battery; two counts of aggravated sodomy; aggravated sexual battery; and false imprisonment, according to Cobb County district attorney Vic Reynolds.

On January 12 and 13 in 2014, Veasley tied his former wife to a bed frame using electrical cord, then heated a screwdriver with a cigarette lighter and burned her with it in various places on her body, authorities said.

After being released by him, she reported the attack to police and Veasley was arrested. The woman also was granted a restraining order prohibiting Veasley from having any contact with her.

But in February 2014, while he was in custody at Cobb County Jail, Veasley arranged for a box containing a threatening note and a live rat to be delivered to the woman, authorities said.

Then, in May 2014, Veasley mailed two letters to the woman.

On Monday, Veasley also pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated stalking in connection with those two incidents.

“This defendant has a history of abusing women and committing crimes, and this particular victim has suffered enormously,” said assistant district attorney Chuck Boring.

Veasley will be on probation for the rest of his life after he is released from prison.