Gambling Makes Cheerleading Coach A Convicted Felon

Anna Miles coaches cheer leading for the Hagerstown Heat in Maryland. It was a gambling fundraiser that has now made Miles a convicted felon.

Miles organized a bingo fundraiser in which she sold tip jars and ran a bingo game. The problem was that she did not have a permit to do either, and she was arrested and charged by prosecutors.

This week Miles was convicted on those charges, but the judge in the case stopped short of sending her to jail. The crime she committed could have landed her in jail for up to five years. The judge suspended the five year sentence and instead gave Miles three years of probation.

Miles is not completely off the hook, however. She still must be in court to face her violation of probation charges. She was on probation when she ran the illegal gambling fundraiser. It was the violation that had the judge the most disturbed.

"There have been some issues with fundraising and money in the past, which I think she has worked hard to deal with, but I don't think she's profiting from her cheer business," said Miles' lawyer Eric Andrews.

The state convicted Miles but is worried about the outcome of the case. Many organizations use gambling fundraisers to raise money for their cause. After the conviction of Miles, some of these organizations could be reluctant to hold their fundraisers, according to authorities.

December 31, 2008
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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