Man waives preliminary hearing in burglary case

February 08, 2007

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - A Chambersburg man charged with burglaries at a pool hall and King Street Church waived his preliminary hearing this week in Franklin County Central Court.

Jesse Miller, 18, of 117 N. Main St., was charged with burglary and corruption of a minor after he and a 14-year-old boy were found inside Red Diablos at 68 Lincoln Way West on the morning of Jan. 29, Chambersburg police said. The owner of the business and relatives held them until police arrived, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police subsequently charged Miller with burglary and corruption for another incident at Red Diablos that the owner reported Jan. 24. Police said about $500 in change was taken from change machines and games.

In both cases, police said an object had been wedged into a door the night before to prevent it from latching and allowing the business to be entered after it closed.

Police alleged Miller and the juvenile also entered King Street Church illegally several times in January.

In one instance, on Jan. 19, an employee of the church caught them on a church computer with a device connected to an Internet line, according to the affidavit. The employee allowed them to leave, believing they were part of a youth group.

On another occasion, two people matching the description of Miller and the juvenile were seen in the church gym, but ran away, according to records. Church officials also told police that staff once found food missing and hot dogs cooked in the kitchen, and a laptop and computer game from another department were found in the sanctuary balcony.

A DVD player, basketballs and other items were reported missing from the church, and police said computer history records indicated someone was on the church system on several occasions, including overnight, according to court records.

Staff searched the church several times and were unable to find anyone, police said.

Miller and the boy, however, also took pictures of themselves while inside the church and posted them on a MySpace Web site, according to the affidavit.

Miller was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy and theft for the incidents at the church, police said. His mandatory arraignment is scheduled for March.

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