INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Indianapolis City-County Councilor Jeff Miller pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of battery on a child and resigned his seat on the council.
The plea agreement was announced during an appearance in Hendricks County Court. The deal means he will serve four years probation, and the original three charges of child molestation were dropped.
He was charged charged last November after two young female friends of Miller's son told child sex crime detectives Miller had inappropriately touched them in his home.
Miller, a Republican, requested a special prosecutor in his case because Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry, a Democrat, supported his opponent in the last Council election. Curry opposed the request, but a judge approved it and appointed Hamilton County Prosecutor D. Lee Buckingham II. The case was heard in Hendricks County after a Marion County judge recused himself.
Soon after his court hearing, Miller submitted his letter of resignation to Council leadership. In it, he said, "It has been a great pleasure to serve my community, neighbors and all the residents of Council District 16. I have truly enjoyed working with you, my fellow councilors and the fantastic staff of the council office."
He was originally expected to resign November 20, but never did. In fact, he continued attending community events including a Christmas tree lighting, a crime watch meeting and a neighborhood meeting in Carson Heights. He then released a statement saying he planned to stay in his seat to continue "to give a voice to those who felt they didn't have a voice."
When he didn't resign as originally expected, Council members removed Miller from all of his committee assignments and his fellow Republicans kicked him out of their caucus.
This letter of resignation was effective Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.
Kristin Jones, a Democrat who filed last week as a candidate to replace Miller on the City-County Council, released a statement shortly after Miller's resignation, saying, "Today's news brings to close this troubling saga, and I hope this will allow attention to return to what this City-County Council seat should represent: a tireless advocate for the residents and neighborhoods of District 16."
A Council spokesperson released the following statement:
Long-time Indianapolis City-County Councillor Jeff Miller has resigned his seat on the governing body, the Council office confirms.
Miller submitted his resignation effective 9:00 a.m., August 15, 2018 in a brief statement filed with Circuit Court Clerk Myla Eldridge. “It has been a great privilege to serve my community, neighbors and all the residents of Council District 16,” Miller said.
Council President Osili said Miller’s service on Council will be remembered for his “tireless advocacy for his constituents, and the true passion he brought to serving Indianapolis,” adding that he respects Miller’s decision to resign.