A 27-year-old Eagle River man involved in the alleged armed robbery of an elderly Phelps man in November had a preliminary hearing in Vilas County Circuit Court last week.

Miles L. Krohn, charged with armed robbery, substantial battery, vehicle operator flee or elude an officer, operating while revoked, two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer and seven counts of misdemeanor bail jumping,  appeared by video with his attorney, Paul Garland Bon­neson. Assistant District Attorney Scott Niemi also appeared by video.

Vilas County Detective Shyla Belzer was sworn in and testified at the preliminary hearing. A motion by Bonneson to dismiss the case was denied by Vilas Circuit Judge Neal A. Nielsen III, but a charge of substantial battery-intend bodily harm was amended to substantial battery. 

The judge found probable cause that Krohn had committed a crime. Krohn was then bound over for arraignment, which was scheduled for Jan. 6 at 1:15 p.m. His $100,000 cash bond was continued. 

A second suspect, Aut­umn S. Williams, 24, of Eagle River, charged with armed robbery, substantial battery-intend bodily harm, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of felony bail jumping, has pleaded not guilty and a pretrial conference was set for Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. She is being held on a $50,000 cash bond.

The third suspect in the case, Devon L. Brown, 24, of Lac du Flambeau, charged with armed robbery, substantial battery-intend bodily harm, possession of methamphetamine, three counts of felony bail jumping and six counts of misdemeanor bail jumping, has pleaded not guilty and a pretrial conference was set for Jan. 26 at 10:15 a.m. He is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

According to authorities, an elderly Phelps man was met in his driveway by two individuals wearing masks Nov. 18 after he had left Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet, Mich. They allegedly demanded money and before the victim could hand over any, Krohn allegedly struck the victim in the face with a hammer. Money, a cell phone and keys were then allegedly taken from the victim and the suspects fled the scene. Deputies from the Vilas County Sheriff's Office responded and processed the scene.

The case was turned over to the Vilas County Sheriff's detectives division and two suspects, Krohn and Brown, were identified on casino surveillance cameras following the suspect at the casino, with Brown allegedly assisting Krohn at the scene of the incident in Phelps. Within 48 hours, the suspects were apprehended and a third suspect, Williams, was arrested. She allegedly was the getaway driver.

Due to the holidays and a light circuit court schedule, there were no other felony cases in court last week.