Alleged car burglar remains behind bars

The man charged in a downtown auto burglary last month is the same man accused of taking a rifle from an MBI agent’s vehicle during a revival at The First Baptist Church in November.

Nicholas L. Catchings, 35, was arrested and charged with auto burglary in the mid-March incident where he went through a woman’s car who was in a bar, saiid Philadelphia Police Detective Bobby Pattillo.

Catchings was also arrested on a contempt of court charge.

He is being held in the Winston County Correctional Facility on a $10,000 bond and has not been issued bond on the contempt of court warrant.

Police said they believe Catchings lives in Philadelphia, although he gave a Crystal Springs address when he was booked.

Pattillo said the auto burglary case has been forwarded to the District Attorney's office for consideration by the next grand jury.

Catchings was identified after he was caught on surveillance cameras rummaging through a vehicle on Center Avenue around 9:53 p.m. 

Catchings is believed to have taken two purses from the victim's car that were later recovered. Some cash and credit cards were reportedly taken.

Catchings has a long history with law enforcement. 

He was also connected to two handguns recovered that were stolen out of vehicles parked at Neshoba General.

In March 2013, Catchings, then 27, pleaded guilty to strong-armed robbery and received an eight-year sentence and $1,500 fine. 

He pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and received two three-year sentences to run consecutively. He was ordered to make $300 in restitution to the victim.