HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The cases against a 33-year-old Hutchinson man accused of crimes in five cases will proceed to trial.
Maurice Miles had been sent to Larned for a mental evaluation and, as reported last month, he is competent to stand trial.
Judge Chambers held the hearing in part to see if a motion to consolidate all the cases was filed by Defense Attorney Alice Osburn, but that was never mentioned, however Osburn did indicate that a plea offer had been extended by the state and Miles rejected that. Judge Chambers then told both attorneys that the cases would be placed on the next trial docket.
Miles had earlier been allowed to leave jail so he could attend drug treatment, but then absconded and was picked up in Woodward, Okla., in March of last year. He is accused of stealing as many as five vehicles.
Miles had five warrants through the sheriff’s office and allegedly stole vehicles. One was from Hutchinson where he got it stuck in the snow in Great Bend, then stole another vehicle in Great Bend, but got it stuck in the snow here in Hutchinson. He then allegedly stole a third vehicle and got it stuck in Rush County, near the town of La Crosse. He then stole a vehicle there and drove it to Hays. He stole yet another vehicle and took it to Oklahoma where he was picked up on some felony charges.
He was released from jail in October of 2012 on a $110,000 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.
He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond.