Joseph Wade Miller, 55, of St. George, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery in 5th District Court. The sentencing follows a guilty plea entered during a hearing that was originally scheduled as a preliminary hearing.
The charge stems from an incident reported May 6 at the Red Roof Inn on Bluff Street. According to a police report, Miller approached a guest sitting outside her room and touched her genitals. Miller initially denied speaking with the woman that night but later told officers he placed his hand between her legs while attempting to steady himself due to intoxication.
Miller was arrested on May 8. He remained in jail on $2,500 bail until May 20, when he was released under conditions that included staying at least 500 feet away from the victim.
The court suspended a one-year jail sentence for Miller and instead ordered 12 months of bench probation and an $803 fine. He was also ordered to obtain full-time employment. Under Utah law, private employers are not required to conduct background checks on motel maintenance workers, though such screenings are common in the hospitality industry.
