Faced with compelling evidence of guilt, a Shreveport man pleaded guilty to simple robbery in Caddo District Court Monday, March 6, just minutes before a jury was to begin to weigh the factors of his guilt or innocence.

Cortez Waddles, 19, had been charged with simple robbery in January 2016 after a 23-year-old man was attacked and robbed by three men outside a local convenience store. While fleeing his attackers, the victim slipped and fell. The attackers then hit and kicked the victim, taking his iPhone, wallet and shoes. Shreveport police used the popular “Find my iPhone” app to locate the phone, which the attackers still possessed hours after the attack.

One of the attackers accepted responsibility for his actions early and pleaded guilty to felony possession of stolen things. The third accused robber will stand trial April 10, 2017.

The jury in Waddles’ prosecution had been selected and waited in District Judge Katherine Dorroh’s courtroom to hear the state’s witnesses, who already were present to testify, when Waddles decided to admit his guilt as charged.

Judge Dorroh will sentence Waddles on April 20, 2017. Waddles faces up to seven years in prison, with or without hard labor.

Caddo Parish Assistant District Attorney Jason Waltman prosecuted the case, while Leslie Kelly represented Waddles.