Recommended Plea Bargain for Miller Filed in Starke Circuit Court

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse
A recommendation for a plea agreement has been filed in the case of former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller. Special Prosecutor Michael Krebes has filed the recommended plea agreement with the St. Joseph County Court in which Miller would plead guilty to three counts. Special Judge Jerome Frese took the recommendation under advisement.

The recommendation would sentence Miller to three years on each count to be served concurrently, and each of those sentences would be suspended to be served on probation. In addition, Miller would be required to pay court costs, probation fees, and serve one year on home detention through Starke County Community Corrections. She would also be required to pay $52,044 in restitution per a negotiated settlement with the Indiana Attorney General’s office.

Miller would have to pay $3000 toward the restitution before the expiration of her probation and make monthly payments throughout the rest of her sentence.

A sentencing hearing has been set before Judge Frese on May 13 at 9 a.m. in St. Joseph County Court.

Connie Miller is accused of taking $74,408.67 from the town of North Judson during the time in which she served as the town’s clerk-treasurer from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011.

Ten counts have been filed against Miller: nine counts of Theft and one count of Official Misconduct, which are Class D Felonies. The charges, which were filed Aug. 22, allege that Miller took unauthorized control over cemetery lot sales, utility receipts, and other deposits and payments from the town.