By Brandon Lowrey
Contra Costa Times
January 31, 2009
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_11596690?nclick_check=1
 |
| Former Roman Catholic priest George Miller, left, looks at his attorney Steven Cron during a sentencing hearing Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, in Los Angeles County Superior Court in San Fernando, Calif. Photo by Nick Ut |
SAN FERNANDO - A former Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to molesting one boy and confessed to abusing at least four others was sentenced Friday to three years in prison.
George Miller, 70, was convicted of repeatedly molesting a boy from 1988 to 1991 while Miller was a priest at Guardian Angel Church in Pacoima. Prosecutors said he admitted to molesting four others and is suspected of abusing at least one more, but that charges couldn't be brought because the statute of limitations had passed.
Before Superior Court Judge Cynthia Ulfig read Miller's sentence, two of his other victims, now in their 30 s and 40 s, addressed the man who destroyed their lives.
"You betrayed our family. Poisoned it," said the 41-year- old victim, who was molested between the second and sixth grades. "This is not how I wanted to start my life."
The former priest showed no expression as his victims spoke.
Miller will serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, Ulfig said, and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
A handful of people came to the sentencing to support Miller.
"He's a good friend of ours," said one man, who would not give his name. "He did a lot for the poor people."
Others declined to say anything. They spoke among themselves in hushed tones, huddled in a corner outside the courtroom and wiped their red eyes.
The sentencing comes as a federal grand jury investigates whether the Los
Angeles Archdiocese has been properly dealing with priests accused of sex crimes.
The archdiocese released a written statement explaining that Miller was first accused of molestation 32 years ago, then was accused in 1989 of unspecified "boundary violations," then removed from the priesthood after a third accusation in 1996.
"Miller was sent to treatment, then permanently removed from ministry," the statement said.
"We hope that today's sentencing brings some measure of comfort to George Miller's victims."
The archdiocese also refuted allegations that it tried to keep Miller's records secret, saying it only refused to release documents such as medical records.
Outside the courtroom Friday, prosecutor Ann Marie Wise said the most rewarding part of the plea bargain for the victims was that Miller had to confess his crimes, in detail.
"This is a man who destroyed children, destroyed families, destroyed lives," she said.
Miller used his bond of trust with his parishioners to get access to their children and homes.
Joan Curtis, an aunt of one of the victims, said that decades ago, Miller had asked her if he could use her beach house to spend time with his ailing mother. She happily obliged and gave him a key.
It wasn't clear whether he ever took his mother there. He did, however, use the space to molest children.
Miller finally roused the family's suspicions when he was caught spending time there, unannounced, with boys.
"I think he is despicable, and I feel very violated," Curtis said.
Her nephew added: "He's a poison in our family. One that still holds sway to this day."
He blamed his sexual abuse for trust issues he feels today and said he is no longer a practicing Catholic.
The priest was never actually convicted of molesting him. But after all these years, he said he felt vindicated when the priest finally admitted to his crimes.
The only victim the priest was actually convicted of molesting did not show up to the sentencing, but his 30-something older brother - also a victim - did.
He said his younger brother had turned to drugs to escape from his pain.
"Can I ever trust a priest? No. Can I ever put a priest in front of my child? No. I always stand between a priest and my child.
"Do I believe there's a God? Who the hell cares?"
He paused, then added softly: "I don't."
Contact: brandon.lowrey@dailynews.com, 818-713-3699
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.