Democrat state senator is forced to pay restitution after he was caught keying a car that had a 'Biden sucks' sticker on it: Says his 'lack of self-control' has 'impacted my reputation'
A Democratic state senator in Rhode Island who was caught keying a car because it had a 'Biden sucks' bumper sticker has been sentenced to pay $3,000 in restitution.
Joshua Miller, 69, who serves as the Senate Democrat policy chairman, admitted to charges of vandalism and obstruction of a police officer.
It comes after he deliberately keyed a vehicle that had been parked next to his own, at the Garden City Center in Cranston, Rhode Island, last month.
The son of the car's owner immediately reported the incident to the police, stating he heard a scratching noise and got out of the vehicle to see Miller holding a set of keys in his hands.
When confronting Miller about keying his vehicle, he simply denied it and walked away. That was until police arrived and charged Miller with the crimes which are misdemeanors.
Democratic Rhode Island state senator Joshua Miller, 69, has been ordered to pay over $3,000 in restitution following charges of vandalism. He appeared humbled outside of the court
Miller, a Democrat representing parts of Cranston, Rhode Island, entered a no-contest plea at his arraignment in a vehicle vandalism case
Miller, who has been in office since 2006, pled no contest during his arraignment and was ordered to pay $2,850 in restitution to the owner of the vehicle together with a $250 donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Speaking outside 3rd District Court in Warwick, Miller appeared humbled as he took responsibility for his actions.
'I am truly sorry for my actions in this matter, and I am disappointed in my behavior and lack of judgment,' Miller told reporters.
'In a blink of an eye, I exhibited a lack of self-control that has impacted my reputation. For that, I only have myself to blame as I am solely responsible for what led to today's court proceedings,' he added.
Wen asked by a reporter as to why he keyed the car, Miller did not have a response.
Miller, who has been in office since 2006, pled no contest during his arraignment and was ordered to pay $2,850 in restitution to the owner of the vehicle together with a $250 donation to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
So long as Miller behaves himself and commits no further crimes for the next year, . the case will be expunged from his record, the Boston Globe reported.
The Rhode Island Republican Party chair, who called for Miller to resign, said the plea deal is 'disappointing although not surprising.'
Rhode Island state senator Joshua Miller was arrested last month after being captured on surveillance camera vandalizing a vehicle with a 'Biden sucks' bumper sticker
Miller had parked on the right, while the vehicle with the 'Biden Sucks' sticker was seen on the left
Miller caused significant damage to the door of the car with his keys. He could not explain why
'It's disappointing although not surprising;, Joe Powers told Fox News. 'It's another case of politics as usual in the Ocean State. In pure Rhode Island political fashion, another Democrat gets off with a slap on the wrist and retains his chairmanship of the powerful Health and Human Services Committee and committee assignments with no recourse.'
Rhode Island state senator Joshua Miller was arrested after he admitted to keying a car
On the other side of the aisle Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, a Democrat, defended Miller calling him 'a dedicated and passionate public servant.'
'I don't believe that any one of us would want to be judged solely upon our worst moments,' Ruggerio said. 'Because of his long record of service, because he has taken responsibility for his actions and because the events of that day had nothing to do with his responsibilities in the Senate or his position as a state senator, we are putting this incident behind us and moving forward.
'Like all of us who hold elected office, Senator Miller will ultimately answer to his constituents,' Ruggerio added.
Miller's behavior led to a series of awkward encounters with the local police as they tried to pin down what happened.
At one stage, Miller offered police officers his keys to examine if there was any paint on them
The victim saw Miller holding a set of keys and confronted him about the vandalism, but Miller denied it and walked away only for police to get involved
Police body camera footage showed how Cranston Police approached Miller two hours later, where he initially denied vandalizing the car and even allowed them to inspect his keys to see if any paint from the car had transferred.
Miller then blamed the victim, claiming he believed he had been recognized as a politician.
He said he believed the man accusing him of keying his car was a 'gun nut' and part of a group of people who allegedly stalk him due to his backing of anti-gun legislation.
Miller serves as the Senate Democrat policy chairman and leads the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and has held his position since 2006
'He was blocking my way, saying that I scratched his car, I didn't scratch his car,' Miller said. 'I'm a state senator, I think he recognized me. I think he's one of the gun nuts.'
'He didn't recognize you', the police officer responded bluntly.
Miller leads the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and represents District 28 that includes the location of the incident. He has held his position since 2006.
Miller was the sponsor of a senate bill which looks to ban the possession, sale and transfer of assault weapons.
The Democrat went further, accusing the victim of making threats against him.
Then in a desperate attempt to curry favor with the officers, Miller brought up the chief of the department, name-dropping Colonel Michael Winquist.
In a series of police body cam videos, Miller denied vandalizing the car, claiming he thought the victim was a 'gun nut'
Police visited Miller at his home after they found surveillance video of him keying the car
Miller is pictured as he is taken away in handcuffs last month
He urged the officers to contact the colonel believing Winquist might be on his side, aware of the threats made against him.
But that plan was foiled when Cranston Police Department later confirmed Miller had never reported any such 'threats' to Winquist or to any other member of the department.
In a separate body cam video released by Cranston Police, the victim returned to the scene and identified Miller as the perpetrator.
After reporting the incident to the police, the victim's mother suggested that Miller, as a Democrat, might have been unhappy with her 'Biden sucks' bumper sticker.
After reviewing the surveillance camera security footage, police released Miller, but later that night, went to question him again at home.
In a third body cam video, Miller admitted to being the vandal and once again repeated claims he had been 'threatened' - even suggesting the victim 'dared him' to key the car claiming he had been taunted with the victim saying: 'Hey, Miller! What you gonna do?'
'What's the reason to key the car, though, that's the question?' a police officer asked him.
'Because he was daring me to, basically,' Miller responded. 'The guy started on me as soon as I opened my door.'
'There's a video! There's a video!' the police officer stated, expressing disbelief.
'This guy wants to pursue charges. He's upset. I think you're going to cooperate? Why did you key his car?' the officer asked repeatedly. 'You just got mad and keyed his car? Did he threaten you?'
'I thought he was a gun nut. I thought he was threatening me,' Miller responded meekly. 'I took my keys out when he started settling at me. I felt threatened.'
Police suggested Miller accompany them to the police station, which he agreed to do.
In a statement, Cranston police, and Winquist, praised how their officers handled the incident.
'Mr. Miller never reported any threats to Colonel Winquist or any member of the Cranston Police Department,' the statement read.
'Nobody is above the law, including those who make and enforce the laws,' Winquist added. 'The officers who handled this investigation did so with fairness, integrity, and without preferential treatment.'
Source: Daily Mail
