Jury Trials Begin in Oconee General Sessions, 10th Circuit

Plexi-glass shields are in place to protect from COVID-19, as a jury was chosen yesterday for the first Oconee County General Sessions trial since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March.

Testimony began this morning in the fourth floor courtroom at the Oconee County Courthouse in Walhalla.

Not only is today’s trial the first in General Sessions this year, it’s also the first in the 10th Circuit, which is comprised of both Oconee and Anderson Counties.

The first defendant, Gary Martin Wirtz, is being represented by attorney Elizabeth Byford in today’s trial. Wirtz is charged with trafficking methamphetamine.