Ga. man faces more charges in break-ins

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- A Georgia man accused of breaking into several downtown businesses Sunday morning remains jailed with a high bail amount.

William Jeremy Miles, 24, of Hazlehurst, Ga. appeared Tuesday in Winchester General District Court via video from the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center for the second time in two days. Police served arrested warrants on Miles on Monday charging him with two counts each of breaking and entering and destruction of property as a principle in the second degree as well as petty larceny of a fire extinguisher. Officers arrested Miles on Sunday on one count each of burglary and destruction of property.

Judge David S. Whitacre ordered that the $250,000 bond amount granted in Miles earlier counts cover the new charges. At the second hearing Whitacre noted Miles currently does not qualify for a court-appointed attorney but could later if his financial status changes.

Authorities accuse Miles of breaking into the Masonic Lodge Winchester Hiram at 118 N. Loudoun St. with intent to commit a felony such as larceny. Detective Karen Dew, of the Winchester Police Department, states in a criminal complaint she responded to the lodge to discover damage throughout the building's three stories. Officers recovered from the second floor a Georgia commercial driver's license, clothing and several credit cards belonging to Miles, the complaint states. Court documents indicate Miles works as a truck driver in Georgia.

Separate complaints accused Miles of breaking into the Daily Grind, 1 N. Loudoun St.. A complaint states video surveillance cameras show Miles picking up a concrete flower pot and using it to break the glass window at the entrance of the Daily Grind. Miles then reached in and grabbed a fire extinguisher, the complaint states. Miles then walked west on Boscawen Street, according to the complaint.

The man also went to the Westside Barber Shop, 37 W. Boscawen St., where police say he broke in and tried to start a fire. A criminal complaint states Officer K.J. Nixon responded to the area of the shop for a call of a person bleeding. The man admitted that he broke into the business and cut his leg severely when he tried to go through the glass door.

"Miles stated he broke into the business due to being cold," the complaint states. "Miles admitted he was intoxicated overnight."

Rescue workers took Miles to Winchester Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.