By Sharla Steinman
Loveland Reporter-Herald, Colo.
LOVELAND, Colo. — The former Loveland police officer discovered responsible of violating the civil rights of a teenage lady who accused him of sexually assaulting her whereas on responsibility Aug. 4, 2023, was sentenced to 17 years in jail Monday.
In a two-hour sentencing listening to in U.S. District Court in Denver, Judge Nina Wang delivered the sentence in a packed courtroom to 30-year-old Dylan Miller, who confronted as much as a life sentence in jail for deprivation of civil rights, a category 4 felony, based on the indictment.
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Miller additionally faces state kidnapping and sexual assault of a kid expenses in the identical incident, and if he’s convicted of these, the federal and state sentences will likely be served concurrently.
“I will forever be haunted by him and the terrible things he did to me,” mentioned the teenage lady in the course of the sentencing listening to. She used the pseudonym “Olivia” all through the trial to guard her id.
Olivia mentioned Miller approached her and a buddy in North Lake Park shortly after midnight and that he requested her buddy to depart, based on the arrest affidavit from a Larimer County case. Miller then took Olivia to a extra secluded space of the park the place he made Olivia carry out oral intercourse on him, the affidavit additional states.
Jurors discovered Miller responsible of violating Olivia’s civil rights in December after a greater than two-week-long trial and 13 hours of deliberations.
During the sentencing Monday, Olivia mentioned she will be able to not see police vehicles or park benches with out getting flashbacks of that August evening with Miller.
“He is an evil person … there is no forgiving,” Olivia mentioned, including she was pleased with herself for coming ahead, regardless of being afraid legislation enforcement or attorneys wouldn’t take heed to her story.
“I will always be glad I came forward because others in the community (won’t experience what he did to me),” Olivia mentioned in the course of the listening to.
Miller rejected the allegations, and whereas delivering the sentence, Wang mentioned Miller denied ever assembly Olivia to legislation enforcement, regardless of proof later discovered of her title and date of delivery written down by Miller from a earlier encounter along with her.
Defense lawyer Kristen Frost really helpful a 10-year sentence for Miller, saying he has no legal historical past, was honorably discharged from the Marines after 4 years of service and is a married father of three. Frost mentioned she was involved Miller would face extra difficulties in jail and a more durable sentence as a former legislation enforcement officer, and mentioned she was anxious he wouldn’t survive jail.
“ … To take his life based on what is at issue in this case, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it,” Frost mentioned in the course of the sentencing listening to. Frost additionally requested his sentence run concurrently with the end result of the state expenses he’s going through within the eighth Judicial District Court in Fort Collins.
She added that whatever the sentence, Miller plans to enchantment.
U.S. Attorney Alecia Riewerts really helpful a 45-year sentence for Miller, reasoning that he not solely violated the rights of a 15-year-old lady, however that he additionally abused his authority as an officer and broke the belief of the Loveland neighborhood.
“Instead of choosing to protect and serve … his actions also erode the faith of the community in law enforcement,” Riewerts mentioned. The U.S. lawyer mentioned she felt a 45-year sentence would replicate the severity of the case, shield the general public, and supply respect to the legislation Miller violated.
Olivia’s grandfather, who was known as “Olivia’s grandfather” all through the case to guard Olivia’s id, mentioned he and his household reside in a continuing state of despair and nervousness since Olivia instructed them what occurred to her. He described Olivia as somebody who was as soon as outgoing and gregarious however now “wants to blend into the crowd.”
“To see her spirit gone has absolutely broken my heart,” he mentioned in the course of the sentencing listening to, including that he’s by no means felt extra pleased with his granddaughter for sharing her story and for persevering by life and the trial.
Before delivering the 17-year sentence, Wang mentioned she wanted to contemplate a sentence that was adequate however not higher than vital. She additionally took a couple of minutes to thank Olivia and her grandfather for talking and to thank the household and pals of each Olivia and Miller for attending the listening to and displaying their help.
Wang finally mentioned she believed the a number of previous interactions between Miller and Olivia had been troubling and led her to imagine the accused intercourse assault was greater than a heat-of-the-moment scenario. She additionally mentioned that Miller denying ever assembly Olivia, regardless of the handwritten proof of their interplay, was regarding. Wang acknowledged that errors are potential however mentioned she believed what occurred between Miller and Olivia was “much more than a mistake” based mostly on the proof offered in the course of the trial.
Miller may be required to pay between $50,000 and $250,000 in restitution, though a restitution listening to has but to be scheduled. Upon launch, Miller will face 5 years of probation and must meet sure necessities, comparable to psychological well being remedy and intercourse offender registration, Wang mentioned.
Miller remains to be going through trial on state expenses of first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault of a kid from a place of belief, illegal sexual conduct by a peace officer, sexual assault of an individual with a 10-year age distinction, official oppression, and first-degree official misconduct. He has not entered a plea on this case, and he’s set to seem at 10 a.m. May 4 within the eighth Judicial District Court in Fort Collins, based on courtroom information.
In a news launch, Loveland Police Chief Tim Doran mentioned the case was an excessive abuse of authority and betrayal of the neighborhood’s belief in legislation enforcement. The chief wrote he was disenchanted the decide imposed a lesser sentence than the 45 years federal prosecutors requested.
“A 15-year-old girl should have found safety and support from a police officer. Instead, she was victimized,” Doran wrote within the emailed news launch. “… While we respect the judicial process, we are sorely disappointed.”
Doran didn’t rent Miller, however when Miller was recognized as a suspect and brought into custody, he was instantly terminated, the news launch said.
He added that since he turned chief, all division personnel, and greater than 100 staff, have signed an oath committing themselves to excessive requirements.
No punishment can undo the hurt precipitated to the sufferer, however we stay dedicated to accountability, transparency, and justice,” Doran wrote within the news launch. “I remain confident in the men and women serving in this department today. None of us are perfect, but we are committed to holding ourselves to the highest professional, ethical, and moral standards demanded by the community, our profession, our peers, and our department oath.”
Doran mentioned the case will proceed to function a reminder for what the division won’t ever enable, including that Loveland residents can count on points that come up throughout the company will likely be addressed rapidly.
“Justice should all the time be our North Star, he wrote within the news launch.
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