By Ryan Pilon

Michael Miller to serve sentence in community

Feb 11, 2011 | 1:38 PM

Michael Shane Miller, 40, will serve two years less a day in the community with conditions.

Miller pleaded guilty to uttering death threats to his former common-law partner, as well as breaking into a home in the RM of Garden River on Aug. 5, 2009 with a double barrel shot gun and fileting knife, looking for her.

The homeowners came home to find their .22 rifle, keys to the gun cabinet, and phones missing and later discovered Miller crouched under the basement stairs.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused all the people in Saskatchewan, actually in Prince Albert. I just want to continue on with my life, and make everything better for everybody else and for myself,” said Miller, outside of provincial court after the ruling.

Defence lawyer Peter Abrametz said in court that psychologist reports indicate Miller was suffering from adjustment disorder and depression from the break up and was not in the same frame of mind.

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Abrametz said Miller was found to be a very low risk to reoffend, and that he didn’t cause anyone any physical harm, and the court shouldn’t punish him for the “potential of violence.”

“The behavior was disturbing, unfortunate, and inappropriate … however, at the same time, nothing physical occurred and that is something that had to be considered,” said Abrametz.

Miller acknowledged he was in a bad state at the time, which lead to his actions.

“Fourteen years or 15 years (the time he and his common-law partner were together) is a long time. It hit me quite hard and I didn’t think it’d affect me that bad, but that’s what happened. I’m not happy with myself, I feel sorry for everybody involved. They don’t have to live in fear over me, because I’m not a threat to anybody,” Miller said.

Crown prosecutor Cam Scott said he’s going to review Judge Carter’s decision before determining if an appeal will be filed.

“He (Judge Carter) quite frankly used the reports that were before the court as far as being able to assure himself that there wouldn’t be a danger to the public. That’s something I want to look at,” said Scott.

The conditions of Miller’s sentence include house arrest for the first six months, and he will have a curfew for the rest of the sentence. The conditional sentence will be followed by a three-year probation.

Miller is not allowed to contact his former common-law partner or the Garden River homeowners and he’s to stay in British Columbia. He’ll only be allowed to enter Saskatchewan for court or matrimonial property dispute matters.

“The people directly involved in this matter will know that if you step one foot in this province … so much as wave at these people … and you will be arrested,” said Judge Carter in court.

Miller also has to serve 250 hours of community service, will pay a $500 surcharge, will provide a DNA sample, is prohibited from using alcohol, drugs, and firearms, and will take domestic violence abuse programming.

“I deserve what I got. I made a mistake. I was in a pretty emotional, sad state when it was all happening and I wasn’t thinking clearly,” said Miller.

Miller will return to B.C. where he said he hopes to get his life back on track. He has a job there as a fisherman, as well as a new girlfriend.

rpilon@panow.com