Mistrial declared in Seneca Municipal Court

A jury could not reach the required unanimous verdict in a day-long trial in the Seneca Municipal Court, and the judge declared a mistrial. But that doesn’t mean the case of Seneca versus Sikes is finished. Judge Danny Singleton this morning said he has instructed both sides to try to come to an agreement or face a re-trial in late January. The issue at trial involved 700 Main Street. The city argued that a permit obtained by Sikes to demolish the remains of a building there had expired without the work being completed. But Judge Singleton said after more than three hours deliberations, the jury was hung. Singleton then gave an Allen charge to the jury—sort of a pep talk—but that also did not lead to a verdict.