Joseph Michael Miller

KOSCIUSKO — A Warsaw man was sentenced to six years at the Indiana Department of Corrections on Monday, June 24, after he dropped a gun, causing it to go off and shoot into a neighboring apartment.

Joseph Michael Miller, 27, 221 N. Columbia St., Apartment F., Warsaw, was charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a level 3 felony; criminal recklessness and neglect of a dependent, both level 6 felonies. Charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia were dismissed.

On Jan. 25, officers with the Warsaw Police Department were called to an apartment in reference to shots fired through a ceiling into the bedroom of a female subject. The shot was reported to come from a second-floor apartment directly above the female’s apartment. An officer heard the call and had prior knowledge of drug dealing and alleged gun possession by Miller, who resides in the apartment where the shots came from.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the female subject said no one was in the bedroom of her residence when the incident occurred.

Officers went to the suspect apartment to investigate and made contact with a female at the apartment, who was present with her son. An officer standing in the hallway observed a male subject, identified as Miller, looking out from an apartment across the hallway from the location where the incident occurred.

Miller told the officer he reached for a gun under a couch in his bedroom when he dropped it, causing the gun to go off. He then described the weapon and added that he didn’t know anything about guns or how to handle them. Miller said a friend asked him to hold onto the firearm.

While searching the apartment, officers found a pewter tray on the floor. The tray had loose crystal shards, identified as methamphetamine, on it. Officers also found several ledger books with information consistent with dealing drugs.

“Mr. Miller has demonstrated that he’s capable of change and he accepts full responsibility for his actions,” said Defense Attorney John Barrett. “He has significant family support and he’s very thankful that no one got hurt.”

For dealing in methamphetamine, Kosciusko County Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Miller to four years in the Department of Corrections. Miller was also sentenced to one year at DOC for criminal recklessness and one year for neglect of a dependent. All sentences will be served consecutively and Miller must pay $925 in restitution for damages to the apartment building. Miller has 300 days of jail time credit.