DUBOIS – A Wilkes-Barre man has been charged with felony theft for failing to return a rental car.
Christopher Marvin Miller, 27, 104 Lehigh St., Wilkes Barre, an inmate of the jail, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft of leased property by DuBois Police Feb. 2.
He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday during centralized court. His bail was lowered from $25,000 to 10,000.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police received a report from Enterprise Rent-a-Car that Miller had rented a 2016 Dodge Charger on Dec. 31 in DuBois. He agreed to return it by Jan. 2 at 11 a.m. Miller never returned the car despite numerous calls ordering him to do so.
Enterprise representatives had maintained phone contact with Miller for approximately one month while Miller allegedly claimed he would return the vehicle and pay any remaining balances due. In early February, Miller’s cell phone number was inactive and he discontinued all contact. They checked his last known address with negative results. Enterprise has been unable to locate either Miller or the vehicle.
Officers were given the relevant paperwork including a postal receipt indicating Miller had received a certified letter from the company. This was a formal demand for Miller to return the vehicle immediately.
The total cost of the rental is $2,438.31 with the value of the vehicle at more than $32,800.