MOUNT VERNON — According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, two men received eight-year prison sentences Tuesday as the result of an early morning burglary near Danville, on May 17.
Jason P. Bice, 24, Nashport, and James S. Hiles Jr., 23, Roseville, were convicted of aggravated burglary with a firearm specification, theft of guns and possessing criminal tools. Bice was also convicted of illegally possessing firearms due to his drug possession conviction in Muskingum County in 2004.
Thatcher said that on May 17, Bice, Hiles, two adult and one juvenile accomplice, rode together to the residence, where Bice, Hiles and the juvenile broke into the home. The two adult accomplices remained in the vehicle at the end of the driveway acting as lookouts.
During the break-in, Bice and Hiles carried two shotguns and a .22-caliber pistol, and they wore gloves and covered their faces with bandanas. A muzzleloader, shotgun and other personal property were stolen from the residence, according to Thatcher. All five suspects were caught at the scene by Knox County Sheriff's deputies responding to the victims’ 9-1-1 call.
Thatcher said cases against the two adult co-defendants are pending in Knox County Common Pleas Court. The juvenile’s county of residence, Licking, is handling the remaining case. Detective Dave Light, KCSO, investigated the case
