A 33-year-old Hutchinson man allowed to leave jail so he could attend drug treatment and who absconded, then captured in Oklahoma was in court Friday where he was arraigned on five cases by Judge Tim Chambers
Maurice Miles was picked up in Woodward, Oklahoma in March and is suspected of stealing as many as five vehicles earlier this year. He entered “Not Guilty” pleas to all charges against him.
His attorney Alice Osburn indicated that at this point, they would be going to trial on the charges. She also managed to convince the judge to lower the 125-thousand dollar bond. The state wanted the bond to stay the same because of him absconding and having to go get him in Oklahoma. But, the charges are all low level felonies, so the judge reduced it to 50-thousand dollars.
In the first case he is charged with being in possession of stolen property, in this case a motorcycle, back on May 18, 2012. He is also charged with possession of stolen property for taking a 2000 Ford Ranger back on July 5, 2012. Miles in a third case, is charged with burglary allegedly occurring at a building at 5016 East 4th, on July 22. He’s also charged with felony theft for stealing a 2003 Chevy Suburban. The final case goes back to July 9, 2012, where he’s charged with interference with law enforcement, and driving while revoked.
Miles had been on probation for obstruction, aggravated false impersonation, driving while suspended, felony theft, and forgery. Some of these charges go as far back as 1993. But he has served time in prison for unlawful manufacturing, and numerous burglary and theft convictions some going back to the 1990′s. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, he has 20-convictions listed.
Miles had five warrants through the sheriff’s office and allegedly stole a vehicle from Hutchinson, then got it stuck in Great Bend, then stole another vehicle in Great Bend, but got it stuck here in Hutchinson. He then allegedly stole a third vehicle and got it stuck in Rush County, near the town of LaCrosse. He then allegedly stole another vehicle there and drove it to Hays. He then allegedly stole another vehicle and took it to Oklahoma where he was picked up on some felony charges there.
He was released from jail back in October of last year on a $110,000.00 Signature or O-R bond. But, the condition of the bond was that he go to inpatient treatment. The state argued against his release at that time citing the number of cases pending which could mean prison, but also his severe dependence on methamphetamine.