DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A man who fled during his DeKalb County trial last week has been sentenced in absentia to life behind bars.
Orzy Theus, spokesman for the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, said 40-year-old Vincent Barber was sentenced Monday to life without parole, plus 20 years for a statutory rape charge and 20 years for child molestation.
The defendant's chair sat empty as the jury handed down the sentence, reported Channel 2's Tony Thomas from the courthouse. Barber hasn't been seen since he left for a lunch break on day four of his trial last week, according to prosecutors.
"It's a rare circumstance.It does happen, but I've not had this happen since I've been an attorney," said prosecutor Peter Boehm.
Boehm said investigators were combing the area, trying to find Barber. Sources told Thomas there was no current evidence Barber has the financial resources to leave the area.
"There certainly has been no indication that there was someone working with him in this to try and leave. Regardless of him leaving or not, I think justice has really been done here," said Boehm.
Calls to Barber's attorney were not returned, according to Thomas.
WSBTV
