Man receives 25-50 years in prison for sexually assaulting 2 children

LUDINGTON — Robert James Miller, 41, of Ludington, will spend the next 25 to 50 years in prison for the crimes of sexually assaulting two children. Miller was sentenced this afternoon in 51st Circuit Court on the counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct with a 12-year-old boy and second degree CSC with an 8-year-old boy.

In June Miller accepted a plea agreement to the two counts. Both children were residing in Riverton Township at the time of the offense; the offenses took place in March of this year.

“The defendant’s history does show a pattern of him making friends with families so those families have trust in him,” Cooper said, adding that once in the family’s trust, Miller goes after their children.

“The family in one case is of a religious background, or practicing background,” Cooper said. “One of the victims said to the defendant, ‘do you think Jesus would approve of what you are doing to me?’ The defendant said, ‘yes, Jesus would find that it’s OK.’ The victim at his tender age said, ‘I don’t think so.'”

During a hearing in June, Miller told the court that he placed the 12 -year-old boy’s genitalia in his mouth and that he rubbed his own genitalia on the younger boy’s bare bottom for sexual gratification.

Miller has two previous CSC convictions from 1998 in Iosco County and a conviction from Clare County. Without the agreement Miller would have served a maximum life sentence without parole. Under the terms of the agreement he will have mandatory lifetime monitoring.