Penticton councillor has faced youth sex crime allegations before: archives

CONTENT ADVISORY

Before Penticton city councillor and newspaper editor James Miller arrived in the Okanagan, he faced multiple allegations of sex crimes against children in a Sarnia, Ontario courtroom which ended with an acquittal.

Now he’s back in Ontario to face a new set of accusations that date back decades. A Sarnia media outlet has compiled months of news coverage from more than 20 years ago.

Before Miller, 62, hears the decision on his most recent criminal trial on historic sex crimes, a second is set to start later this month. But the accusations from three victims aren’t the first he has faced. He stood trial in 2006 when two victims came forward.

Reporter Robynne Hay with The Sarnia Journal collected a series of news reports from the time starting with a young basketball player’s allegations that the well-known local basketball coach and sports reporter sexually assaulted him in a hotel room.

It appears that prompted a second alleged victim to come forward, who claimed Miller assaulted him in the 1980s while the two were paired in the Big Brothers program.

He was a well-known figure in Sarnia at the time and it appears he never returned to coaching after the 2006 trial, despite his acquittal.

After facing additional charges for intimidating a Crown prosecutor’s assistant, Miller was acquitted of sex crime allegations following a trial. The intimidation charge was dropped on the condition he not contact the assistant.

Miller was elected to Penticton city council in 2022 and has worked as a newspaper editor in the Okanagan for several years.

Since he was charged in the summer of 2024, he’s been suspended from council duties.

He was in an Ontario courtroom earlier this month, where he faced allegations of abuse against a former basketball player.

A second trial involving two alleged victims will start later this month.

Miller claimed he coached around 900 players while volunteering for the youth programs.

NOTE TO READERS: If you find yourself or someone you know in need of support please contact VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808. VictimLink BC provides information and referrals to all victims, as well as immediate crisis response to victims of sexual and family violence.