Former Harford County Councilman Lance Miller was sentenced to 11 months in jail after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to court records.
Miller entered the plea Monday, one day before he was scheduled to go to trial on a total of four charges: one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute; one count of possession of marijuana; one count of possession of paraphernalia; and one count of common nuisance.
In exchange for the plea deal, all charges but the first were dropped. Miller was sentenced to a total of 5 years in jail with all but 11 months suspended, and will also face four years of probation upon his release. He is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on April 23.
Miller, 45, whose address in court records was listed as a residence in the 1900 block of Trappe Church Road in Darlington, was charged Nov. 12 after he was found with more than two pounds of marijuana in his possession.
I disagree with this sentencing of Lance to any jail time. Absurd burden on tax payers that we are prosecuting and incarcerating people for marijuana related “crimes” when the entire country is slowly legalizing it.
He had over 2 pounds!!! 11 months isn’t nothing!!!
The way he’s been treating people for the past 20 years, its about time that this dimwitted lunatic is held accountable for something. Things eventually catch up to you.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this for ruining yet another person’s life over Marijuana. Joe Cassilly and Scott Lewis get another feather in their cap, The Task Force gets another pat on the back and the Harford County Judiciary gets to increase their coffers over at the Law Library. Well done, I’m sure all of Harford County can sleep better tonight knowing that you took a whole two pounds of Marijuana out of circulation. I love the way his COUNSEL wrote a letter foregoing his SUPPRESSION HEARING, total BS! Lance Miller, you should’ve took a year and a day at DOC. You would be out faster and would be treated better! When you get out, sell off everything and move away from the Nazism that is Harford County or that corrupt bunch of probation police that dwell in Aberdeen will destroy you even further. HEY HARFORD COUNTY, DO YOU FEEL SAFER NOW?!?!
Unfortunately, for the time being, what he did was illegal. The amount he had implies distribution and since I’m certain he was aware that he was breaking the law I’m having trouble with the whole “ruining another person’s life” narrative. If I blow through a school zone doing 80 I don’t blame the officer that stops me. I smoked weed when I was young… then I grew up. Until those who cannot face the rigors of another day without the crutch of mind altering substances are able to lobby the assembly into legalizing weed, it will remain illegal and I have no pity for those that roll the dice.
The FEDERAL Government has known since 1972 that Marijuana had medical potential. It should have been stricken from the Schedule 1 list at that time. The reason Marijuana has remained illegal for so long is strictly political and racial. I will agree with you that it is illegal. However, I do not agree with the penalties and I definitely don’t agree with ruining a person for it. He received a 5 year sentence for a first offense, period. That is BS. I don’t care how much is suspended, it is still a 5 year sentence for 2 pounds of weed. That is akin to the same sentences for Heroin and Cocaine. That is BS also. When it comes right down to it, who were the police protecting and serving? A week ago, I gave the Task Force kudos for their work against Heroin. Now I say, who were you protecting from that vicious marijuana dealer? What purpose did he being busted serve? Definitely not the public. Since this happened at the end of Uncle Jesse’s Administration, I’ll say NO more on this topic. I just hope Gahler will handle things differently……….
@Soulcrusher
Every reader of this publication are quite aware that you are unhappy with the criminal justice system in Harford County and your take on marijuana use. I am not entering in to a debate with you or any person regarding marijuana. Bottom line, it is still on the books as a crime. Miller was a former member of the County Council, a “law maker”. Maybe the law needs to be changed but it is still a law. People like yourself should be lobbying for a law change if you feel that strongly about it. It might be a great savings to the country in the long run. I am told that Mr Miller might have “dodged the bullet” in years gone by. Task Force/National Guard helicopters reportedly located large amounts of marijuana plants growing in Miller’s corn fields. At that time it was reportedly dismissed as “those damn kids growing that shit in the corn field”. If this is anywhere close to being an accurate account it should have been considered a big break and a learning experience.
“One count of common nuisance”? Never heard of it.
Something akin to “being a complete ‘douche'”
Sir,
I like your style!!!
Common Nuisance is http://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2013/article-gcr/section-5-605
What is it you guys don’t like about a link to a statute being listed, that someone asked the definition of?
Willing buyer, willing seller. The only victim I see here is the taxypayer — again.
Can’t do the time…don’t do the crime biotches….
Typical of the State’s Attorney by dropping all but one charge, and then watering down the remaining charge by suspending most of the jail time.
No wonder we have so many repeat offenders.
Remember the State’s Attorney’s motto – “They’ll reoffend”
Funny, I thought their motto was, “You don’t have any RIGHTS, take the DEAL!”.
This guy should not have had a deal to begin with. He was on probation for a DWI while being investigated for the distribution. He got a hell of a deal for the DWI, and a hell of a deal for the distribution.
One reason I was told for the plea deals is to prevent having long and drawn-out trials. And many of the defendents who get these deals end up reoffending. So instead of getting stiffer sentences and more hope of reform, they just keep getting more and more deals, and more chances to commit more crimes. And all at our expense.
I saw that. Its a non conviction. For sentencing purposes it never happened. As stated before, this was his first offense……
Odd that a public figure….Someone suppose to be a role model gets a lesser sentence and no public picture of him in a prison uniform or mug shot…but the young people sentenced of a similar crime with less amount gets publically scrutinized and found guilty by public opinion. Still illegal as rediculous as some may think, should have the same consequences. I hope Mr Miller enjoys time in the Harford Hilton.