Round Rock man, 45, guilty in kidnapping two girls, sexually assaulting 14-year-old

SAN ANTONIO (Texas News Radio) — A Round Rock man accused of kidnapping two girls and sexually assaulting one of them in late 2017 was convicted in Austin Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors said jurors found 45-year-old Terry Miles guilty on two counts of kidnapping, one count of transporting a minor with intent to engage in sex with her, and one count of interstate travel with intent to engage in sex with a minor.

Miles will face between 20 years and life in federal prison when he is sentenced in April.

Round Rock police were called to the home of Tonya Bates to do a welfare check on December 30, 2017, when she did not show up for work as expected.

Police found Bates inside the home dead and her car missing. Investigators were able to determine that Miles, who lived in the home with her two daughters, may have kidnapped the children.

Prosecutors believe Miles killed Bates with a flashlight, but he was not charged in her murder.

Police were able to find one of the children’s cell phones in a wooded area next to a Wal-Mart store in Round Rock. Store security video shows Miles inside buying camping gear and then leaving in a car looking like the one belonging to Bates.

The other phone and the car were then traced going to Colorado. Miles was arrested in Las Animas County, Col., a few days later after an AMBER Alert was issued for the girls. The girls were found in Bates’ car, while Miles had taken.

During the trial, the 14-year-old girl detailed that Miles repeatedly had sex with her over a five-month period before being arrested.

That included before the kidnapping and before he even moved into the home.

The federal prosecutors said evidence found semen belonging to Miles in the underwear the girl was wearing when they were found.

“Today’s verdict represents justice for the child victims of Terry Miles,” said U.S. Attorney John Bash in a statement. “ Mandatory minimums have been criticized recently, but I am glad that federal law requires defendants to serve at least 20 years—and up to life in prison—for these sorts of heinous acts against children.”

“I am pleased with the guilty verdict against Terry Miles. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the men and women of the Round Rock Police Department and all our Law Enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this case. Our prayers are that this verdict starts the healing process for the two victims,” Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks.