A Winona Lake man who had been accused of threatening co-workers was sentenced Monday to 60 days suspended sentence for possession of paraphernalia under a plea agreement.
The charge he pleaded guilty to is a Class C misdemeanor.
Two felony counts of intimidation against Sammual Nicholis Miller, 29, of 1202 Wooster Road, Lot 44, Winona Lake, were dismissed under the agreement.
He also must forfeit his firearm to police, pay a $100 fine, a $200 drug interdiction fee and $300 for his public defender. If Miller doesn’t commit any crime during his 60-day suspended sentence, he will not have to serve any time in the Kosciusko County Jail.
On Nov. 30, a WPD officer responded to a report of intimidation at KGP Logistics, West Winona Avenue, Warsaw. The human resource director told police that Miller took a break and was found sleeping in his vehicle. Because Miller was sleeping and difficult to wake up, the human resource director suspected drug use and was going to offer Miller a drug test and warned that his employment might be terminated, according to court documents
Two employees told the HR director that sometime between October and November, Miller had told them that if he was fired by telephone, he would return and shoot employees. A witness said he said he was afraid because he had sold a rifle to Miller.
At Miller’s residence, Miller showed officers his firearm, which was taken as evidence. Miller admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day and gave police consent to search his residence. A glass pipe that contained burnt marijuana was found.
At Miller’s sentencing Monday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Voelz wanted to make it clear to Miller that the order for him to stay away from KGP was in effect until December 2019.
Jay Rigdon, Miller’s public defender, said the only two prior charges against Miller were underage drinking and driving without a license in Michigan.
He said the original story against Miller was that he had made threats, but as that was sorted out the state found it was clear that no threats were made and so was willing to dismiss the intimidation charges.
Rigdon compared the situation to high school in that sometimes people don’t like others and things are said which aren’t true.
