Harwood man is charged with sex crimes

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Nevada, Mo. -- A reduction of bond was denied Thursday for a Harwood resident who is accused of sex crimes against a young girl.

Phillip Miller, 24, stood before Judge Neal Quitno in the Vernon County Circuit Court facing 2 Class C felony charges. The charges consisted of second degree statutory rape and second degree statutory sodomy.

According to a report by Brian Moorhouse of the Vernon County Sheriff's Office, Lawrence County Department of Family Services worker Deb Ford contacted him after receiving a hotline call regarding Miller.

On Oct. 29 Sarah Akridge, a forensic interviewer for the Children's Advocacy Center, interviewed the young girl at the Children's Center in Monett, Mo. The report states that the child claimed Miller, on several occasions between January and September 2007, had forcible sexual intercourse with her. She said that despite her attempts to get away, Miller would overpower her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. She told Akridge that on many occasions when Miller did this, he would be drinking alcohol and giving it to her as well.

Due to a concern about the possibility of her running away because of her alleged attacks, the young girl was sent to live in Lawrence County.

Miller's attorney requested on Thursday that his bond of $50,000 be reduced. Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Ewing III was opposed to Miller's being released on his own recognizance but took no stance on a bond reduction.

Judge Quitno denied both the ROR bond and bond reduction. However, he did change the conditions of Miller's bond from cash only to cash or surety. Miller is set to return to court on Jan. 17 for a preliminary hearing and remained in custody at the Vernon County jail as of Friday morning.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: