"I have never prosecuted people who committed more heinous crimes or who were more culpable," said Mr. Craig, who was aided in the long Richmond County Superior Court trial by Assistant District Attorneys Patricia Johnson and Willie Saunders.

While murder charges could not be filed in Augusta, Ronald Coleman, 29, and Carlston W. Coleman, 31, were charged and convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, hijacking a motor vehicle and a weapon charge in the June 21, 1998, abduction of Sam's Club Manager David Holt.

In the early-morning hours of Father's Day 1998, the 45-year-old husband and father of two died locked in the trunk of his burning car on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River.

His wife of nearly 20 years, Donna Holt, spoke briefly with reporters after the verdicts were announced. "I didn't want to be anywhere else," Mrs. Holt responded when asked about attending every day of the two-month trial.

As she left the courthouse steps, she stopped to smile at Richmond County Sheriff Sgt. Wayne Bunton, who along with two FBI agents worked on her husband's homicide as media attention and leads slowed as the years passed. "Walk with me, my friend," she said.

But Mr. Holt was not the only victim the jury of 12 and six alternates heard about. There were Ryan J. Singh, 21, and Manuel B. Arroyo, 19, whose bodies were found in the trunk of a burned car June 24, 1997. Their slayings also remained unsolved in the years since firefighters found them off a rural dirt road in Warren County.

Murder charges have not been brought, but jurors convicted the two Colemans, who are not related, and four other men of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law. Among the crimes alleged in the criminal enterprise were the false imprisonment and assault on Mr. Singh and Mr. Arroyo in Augusta.

Also found guilty were Jarman L. Harold, 24; Charles D. Winters, 28; Kendric Dudley, 30; and Ronnie B. Overton Jr., 22.

The two Colemans face the maximum of two life sentences plus 65 years. Mr. Harold, Mr. Winters, Mr. Dudley and Mr. Overton face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison. Senior Judge Bernard J. Mulherin Sr., who presided over the trial, will sentence the men within the next few weeks.

For defense attorneys and family members of the six men, Friday's verdict was a big disappointment. Martin Puetz, George D. Bush and Sam Sibley had hoped the jury would find the evidence lacking against their clients - Mr. Overton, Mr. Dudley and Mr. Harold, respectively. Only one witness placed the three men in a conspiracy to kill Mr. Arroyo and Mr. Singh.

Michael D. Mann and Robert Citronberg, who represent Carlston Coleman and Ronald Coleman, respectively, said they believe appeals have a good chance of succeeding.

"I'm confident it's coming back," said attorney David Weber, who represents Mr. Winters.

That's little consolation for Mr. Winters' father, Charles Winters, who is dismayed his son was found guilty. "How can 12 people have heard this and found them guilty?" He asked. "It was all a bunch of hearsay."

Ronald Coleman's sister Dana Coleman also voiced frustration with the verdicts. "They had no evidence. I don't understand how they found them guilty. It's awful."

Mr. Craig said the community should thank the jurors and alternates who gave up their lives for two months to see that justice was done.

Carlston Coleman

Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Kidnapping

Burglary

Armed robbery

Hijacking a motor vehicle

Possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime

Ronald Coleman Jr.

Violation of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

Kidnapping

Burglary

Armed robbery

Hijacking a motor vehicle

Possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime

Kendric Dudley

Jarman Harold

Ronnie Overton

Charles Winters

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or shodson@augustachronicle.com.