Wayland Country Club Burglar Sentenced As Habitual Criminal

A man was sentenced Thursday to a 20-year sentence on charges related to a crime he committed in Wayland more than eight years ago.

A jury found Mark Miller, 51, guilty of four counts of being a habitual criminal.

The charges stem from his conviction in December 2011 on charges related to a 2004 incident at the Wayland Country Club. In December, Miller was convicted of breaking and entering in the night time, larceny over $250, larceny in a building, possession of burglarious implements, and wanton destruction of property, according to a press release from the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

According to the press release, Wayland Police responded to a telephone alarm at the Pro Shop at about 9:30 p.m. on March 6, 2004. When officers arrived, they found evidence of a break-in and observed a red Toyota attempting to exit a nearby parking lot.

Miller, the Toyota's driver, was subsequently arrested. In the trunk of his car, police found 27 new golf clubs, which were missing from the pro shop, as well as a pry bar, ski mask, and gloves.

According to the Massachusetts Most Wanted website, Miller failed to appear for an April 4, 2004, court date and warrants were issued for his arrest.

Wayland Police Det. Sgt. Jamie Berger said Miller was finally arrested in Seattle on shoplifting charges in 2010. Before Wayland police could obtain a governor's warrant for Miller's redition to Massachusetts, Miller returned of his own accord and turned himself into the court, Berger said.

Judge Kathe Tuttman sentenced the defendant to 20 years in state prison on the breaking and entering charge. All sentences for his other charges are to run concurrently.

“This defendant has a substantial criminal record and we are pleased that he has been held accountable for his continued deliberate criminal ways,” District Attorney Gerry Leone said. “I commend the for their great police work which resulted in the defendant’s quick apprehension on the night of the offense and for their resilience in bringing the defendant to justice.” 

Miller's criminal record dates back to at least the 1990s, when he was convicted on multiple breaking and entering charges committed in Plymouth, Norfolk, Worcester and Bristol counties.