17-minute deliberation brings guilty verdicts

A court officer says an arrest warrant has been issued for a man found guilty yesterday in the Oconee General Sessions Court. In a 1-day trial, Aaron Catchings was found guilty of petty larceny and burglary second degree, but only his lawyer was present for the trial. The jury deliberated 17 minutes after hearing testimony in a case in which an after-school center was burglarized in Seneca. Deputy Solicitor Lindsey Simmons says Catchings will be sentenced once he is arrested. Testimony was delayed yesterday when Judge Sprouse declared a recess and instructed a prosecution witness to change to clothing appropriate for a courtroom setting. The witness had approached the stand dressed in short pants.