SPARTANBURG MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR PROPERTY CRIMES

A Spartanburg County man received a 20-year prison sentence today after he admitted to breaking into two local homes and two businesses.

Clarence S. Miller, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, grand larceny, petty larceny and resisting arrest. Miller will serve 85 percent of Circuit Judge Mark Hayes’ prison sentence before he is eligible for release.

The break-ins occurred between Dec. 31, 2005 and Aug. 2, 2006 on the west side of the county. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Miller at the scene of the last break-in. A Saxon Avenue resident said Miller kicked in the back door of his home moments after motion detector light activated. Miller fell down a flight of stairs when the resident threatened him with a gun. The resident tackled Miller in the yard and held him until sheriff’s deputies arrived.

Miller’s prior criminal record included third-degree burglary, receiving stolen property, breaking and entering a vehicle and resisting arrest.

“Clarence Miller is a good example of why we have long prison sentences in our state,” Assistant Solicitor Bob Coler said. “He totally disregarded the law until he was caught in the act of committing a serious crime.”