BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont man who pleaded guilty this week to intoxication manslaughter in the death of an off-duty Jefferson County deputy in 2022 has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Michael David Miller, 40, of Beaumont, listened Thursday morning as 252nd District Court Judge Raquel West read the sentence imposed by a Jefferson County jury.
The jury sentenced him to 18 years in a Texas prison, but did not assess a fine.
Miller had faced up to 20 years in prison.
The jury began deliberating Miller's punishment on Wednesday afternoon.
Just before his trial began earlier this week, Miller pleaded guilty in the drunk-driving collision that killed Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy James Lee.
The punishment phase of his trial began after he pleaded guilty.
Miller took the stand and testified on Wednesday before the jury decided his punishment.
He was charged with hitting and killing 71-year-old James Lee while driving drunk in 2022 and later pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge.
Miller testified that he is an alcoholic and has thought about being in court for punishment for a long time. He cried on the stand as he said he would never forgive his self.
“I’m so sorry. I messed up,” he said as his defense attorney asked if he had anything to say to his family. Miller said he pleaded guilty because it seemed like the right thing to do.
Prosecutor Tommy Coleman told Miller in cross examination- that he never once said the victim's name.
“His name was Jim Lee. Not one time when you were questioned by defense council did you say his name," Coleman said in court.
He then asked Miller if he had beer, tequila and whiskey the day Lee died. Miller said he did.
Coleman asked what was in the cigarette he smoked. Miller said it had Delta 9 CBD in it. Coleman asked if he drove after drinking and smoking. He said yes. Coleman asked if he was driving drunk and Miller said yes.
“Did you learn nothing from your 2004 Intoxication-related rollover crash?” Coleman asked Miller in court.
Coleman reminded Miller that he previously testified to saying, “I’m [explicit] up” to an officer following the crash. Miller said he was speaking about his own injuries and was not talking about being drunk.
“I hadn’t even had a traffic violation,” Miller said in response to Coleman.
“.19 blood alcohol concentration an hour after this crash is more than twice the legal limit,” Coleman said.
Monday's Testimony
Miller was set for trial on Monday after he hit and killed an off duty Jefferson County deputy while driving drunk in 2022.
However, Miller's attorney, Thomas Kelly, asked the Honorable Raquel West if his client could enter a guilty plea and be sentenced at a later date.
The prosecutor said he wanted a jury to have a say in choosing the sentence. Judge West accepted the plea and said the jury will return on Tuesday for the punishment phase.
Background
A federal grand jury indicted Miller on a firearms violation on October 5, 2022. He pled guilty to the charge on February 6, 2023.
In addition to the federal charge of "possession of a firearm by a prohibited person," Miller is also facing a state charge of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the death of Deputy James Lee.
Related: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office mourning loss of beloved deputy hit, killed while mowing his lawn
Deputy Lee was off-duty and mowing his lawn when he was hit and killed by a Toyota 4Runner on July 9, 2022.
Officials believe Miller was driving the Toyota on a rural road near Fannett, when he sped around a curve and lost control on Burrell-Wingate Road, according to a probable cause affidavit. The Toyota veered off the road into a ditch, hitting and killing Deputy Lee who was on the lawn mower.
Deputy Lee was pronounced dead at the scene.
Responding troopers observed Miller while he was being treated and said his eyes, “appeared blood-shot and glassy,” and his speech, “sounded slurred," according to the affidavit. They later learned Miller reportedly told medical professionals at the scene that he drank a 30-pack of beer and smoked marijuana before he began driving.
Law enforcement found a gun in the Toyota following the deadly crash and later learned Miller was prohibited from owning or having a gun or ammunition, due to a previous conviction.
Miller was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of Deputy Lee and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon due to his previous conviction.
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