Hagerstown brothers convicted in break-ins

John and Matthew Miles were sentenced to prison

November 21, 2007|By DON AINES

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. ? Two Hagerstown brothers convicted on charges that they broke into half a dozen Franklin County homes last year received state prison sentences Wednesday in Franklin County Court.

John Lynn Miles Jr., 19, and Matthew Lee Miles, 18, both of 923 Kenly Drive each pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of criminal trespass, according to court records. Judge Douglas W. Herman sentenced John Miles to three years and three months to 11 years in prison with Matthew Miles getting three to 11 1/2 years in prison.

John Miles is serving a sentence of up to 20 years in Maryland for burglary copnvictions in Washington County, said Assistant District Attorney Lauren Sulcove. He will serve his Pennsylvania sentence after completing the Maryland sentence, she said.

John Miles pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary in Washington County in March, according to court records.

Sulcove said Matthew Miles is facing burglary charges in Washington County. He will serve his Pennsylvania sentence first with any sentence arising from a conviction in the Maryland cases to be determined later, she said.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department called Pennsylvania State Police in November 2006, informing them that the Miles brothers could be suspects in burglaries in Franklin County, according to the affidavit of probable cause. As a result, 27 charges including burglary, theft, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and use of a firearm were filed against John Miles and 26 counts against Matthew Miles.

Police said homes on Shinham, Stone Bridge and Williamson roads in the Greencastle, Pa., area and Gehr Road in St. Thomas, Pa., were entered on the night of Nov. 29-30. Sulcove said none of the homes was occupied when the burglaries occurred, but the possession of a firearm in the commission of the crimes resulted in stiffer sentences.

Herman ordered the brothers to pay restitution of $19,482.11 for damage and losses from the burglaries. Each man also was fined $850, according to the sentencing documents.

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