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| Former murder suspect free again on bond |
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12/8/2017
By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer
Former murder defendant Nickie Miller was released from jail Monday after posting a $10,000 unsecured bond on drug charges that he received while free on bond once before.
Miller, 55, of Stanton, is currently charged with two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance. The substances allegedly included methamphetamine and morphine.
Miller must wear an ankle monitor while free on bond.
Murder and robbery charges against Miller were recently dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be reinstated at a later date. Until the dismissal Nov. 20 Miller had faced the death penalty if convicted.
Prosecutors said they asked for dismissal of the charges because a piece of evidence they expected to have was no longer available.
Miller was accused of serving as one of the gunmen who shot 52-year-old Paul Brewer to death at his Natalie Drive apartment in December 2011.
Charges were previously dismissed without prejudice against the other alleged gunman, Cody Hall. Hall’s estranged wife, Natasha Martin, is the only one still charged with the alleged robbery and murder of Brewer. She faces the death penalty.
Miller was released from the Montgomery County Regional Jail on the murder and robbery charges in April after posting a $100,000 property bond.
His bond was revoked May 9 after authorities reportedly found him a vehicle with drugs during a traffic stop. A mother and daughter, Jerry Kay Henderson and Rosanna Conrad, were also arrested for alleged drug trafficking as part of investigation tied to the traffic stop.
The investigation involved the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office argued in a motion that Miller violated bond by reportedly leaving his residence “on multiple occasions for trips that do not appear to be for medical treatment or to contact his attorney.”
Miller’s attorney, Bridget Hofler Saunders, argues that he did not violate bond because he was not on house arrest.
Circuit Judge William “Bill” Lane has filed court papers in which he says that a hearing may be required to resolve the issue.
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