A homeless man arrested outside Hall of Languages in February pleaded not guilty to a burglary charge on Wednesday morning. He will go before a treatment court to determine, contingent on a further plea, if drug addiction treatment or criminal prosecution is the best option moving forward.

County Court Judge Joseph Fahey granted Duncan “Wonderboy” Miller, 21, a judicial diversion, which allows him to go before a Syracuse City Treatment Court.  Miller will go before the court on May 5, where City Court Judge James Cecile can determine if drug addiction treatment would serve Miller better than jail time.

Don Kelly, Miller’s lawyer, said that treatment court is plea-based. Miller would have to plead guilty to the burglary for Cecile to evaluate “whether he believes drug addiction played a substantial part in criminal activity.”

Kelly said the treatment court program was started in recent years to allow courts, not just the district attorney, to determine if treatment or prison is the better option. It allows individuals to address treatment issues in situations where drug addiction may contribute to criminal activity, he said.

The Syracuse University Department of Public Safety arrested Miller and Christopher “Shinobi” Dugger on Feb. 15 after a foot chase outside Hall of Languages. They were found with laptops that belonged to SU worth about $1,000.

Police also said Miller was in possession of cocaine.

Miller was arraigned for a felony third-degree burglary charge related to the alleged Hall of Languages burglary on Wednesday, but an additional third-degree burglary charge is pending. Miller is accused of stealing $7,642 worth of electronics from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Fahey set Miller’s bail at $10,000 cash or bond. He is currently being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center.

Published on April 24, 2014 at 1:17 am

Contact Jacob: jspramuk@syr.edu