Trial date set for founder of cheer, dance group

May 08, 2004|by PEPPER BALLARD

The trial date for a Hagerstown woman charged with writing bad checks totaling nearly $10,000 on behalf of Hagerstown Heat All Stars was set for July 7 in Washington County Circuit Court Friday.

Anna L. Miles, 31, of 17000 Burwood Court in Hagerstown, is charged with two counts of writing bad checks of more than $500 and one count of felony theft. Circuit Judge John H. McDowell reminded the woman of her charges in court Friday during her initial appearance.

According to court documents, on Dec. 15, Jeff Hull, owner of BJ's Custom Creations, called Washington County Sheriff's Department investigators to tell them that a check from Hagerstown Heat All Stars for $5347.17 was returned to him stating there were not sufficient funds. The check was used to pay for garments and gym bags for the youth cheer and dance group, the documents state.

Miles had picked up the garments and gym bags when she turned in the check, the documents allege.

On Dec. 31, Washington County Sheriff's Department investigators were called by Jeff Shores, owner of Gooch L.L.C., which is a fund-raising business that offers Corbi's Pizza packages for organizations to sell, according to charging documents.

Shores told investigators that a check from Hagerstown Heat All Stars for $3,934 used to pay for a pizza order was returned to him for the reason of nonsufficient funds, according to charging documents.

Miles, the group's founder and president at the time, told investigators that she is the only person responsible for writing checks to pay for the group's expenses, according to charging documents. Investigators discovered that the group had two bank accounts, both of which were under Miles' name, the documents state.

Her name allegedly was used to endorse the checks for the gym bags, garments and pizza, according to charging documents.

During a Jan. 14 interview with a Washington County Sheriff's Department investigator, Miles said "she has been robbing Peter to pay Paul for the last 18 months," the documents state.

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