Make wishtv.com your home page

City-County councilman facing child molesting counts seeks special prosecutor

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis City-County councilor charged with child molestation has filed a petition Wednesday asking the court to appoint a special prosecutor in the case.

Jeff Miller, 50, was charged with three counts of child molesting. Miller will have an initial hearing Monday on that very same day a full council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.

After a nearly monthlong investigation of the allegations, a probable cause warrant was issued Nov. 16 for Miller, a Republican in office since 2012, on three counts of child molesting. Two 10-year-old girls allege Miller fondled and inappropriately touched them, court documents show.

Miller has not said anything publicly about the allegations against him and has not returned any calls made by 24-Hour News 8. But on social media he shared with constituents he’s back to work.

For the first time in almost two weeks, Miller shared with his followers on social media that he had a busy Tuesday night.

He attended three events: a Christmas tree lighting, a west side crime watch meeting and a monthly meeting for the Carson Heights Neighborhood Association on the city’s south side.

The meeting was held at this church on Standish Avenue in Miller’s district. 24-Hour News 8 learned he talked to residents about the speed limit on Hanna Avenue.

Brenda Jones lives down the street from the church and did not go to the meeting.

“He needs to step down if he’s really charged and that’s really true,” said Jones. “He’s got a charge he needs to step down that’s the right thing to do.”

The Marion County Republican Party chairman has been calling for Miller’s resignation since the charges were filed. Miller represents the 16th District, which includes the downtown and the south and southwest sides of Indianapolis.

“We have separated him from the Republican Party,” said the party chairman, Jim Merritt, who is a state senator.

Merritt told 24-Hour News 8 on Nov. 17 that he talked with Miller and demanded he resign. Merritt said Miller indicated to him that he would, but so far he has not received a letter of resignation.

“My heart goes out to the victims in this tragedy and this is not what the Republican Party is about this is not what the Marion County Republican Party is about,” Merritt said.

Ten Republicans on the City-County Council also called for Miller to resign and said they believe it’s in the best interest of Miller’s constituents, the council and people of Indianapolis.

Online court records show Miller’s initial hearing will be in Danville before a Hendricks County judge after a Marion County judge recused himself because of a possible conflict of interest.

Crime Map
Use Search Bars Above To Search Crime Data