Farmer at trial recounts $10 thousand worth of damage

An Oconee County farmer estimated he has had to spend $10 thousand dollars to repair the damage in a 300-acre pasture the night that county deputies chased and caught a suspect.  Robert Jeffrey Hughes went on trial this afternoon charged with multiple offenses, including malicious injury to property.  Floyd McPhail said he was awakened by deputies who told him of the downed gates and fences that left his cattle vulnerable to wandering into the road.  Several deputy sheriffs testified in the prosecution’s case against Hughes.  A video recorded by the squad car operated by Lt. Tommy Crompton showed a pursuit of a red truck at night which ended on the Babb Road and a man, wearing no shirt, running.