Penticton city councillor’s historic sex crime trial set for next month

A Penticton city councillor and newspaper editor is set to go to trial in Ontario next month for historic sex crime charges.

James Miller is still a city councillor and editor of the Kelowna Courier and Penticton Herald. He has a trial date on March 30 in Sarnia, Ont. related to his time as a youth basketball coach in the 1980s and 1990s.

He’s facing numerous charges for sex crimes against victims who were underage at the time of the alleged offences. His charges include seven counts of sexual interference, three counts of invitation to sexual touching and one count of sexual assault.

Miller was first arrested in August 2024, then again in November 2024 when new charges and allegations came out.

Details of the allegations against Miller are under a publication ban.

He’s on mandatory paid leave from city council. He has has affirmed a commitment to finish out the term, which ends in October.

According to the 2023 statement of financial information from the city, Miller makes $27,493 a year, and he has been on leave for nearly 18 months.

The online petition calling for Miller’s resignation is up to 1,215 signatures. The petition was started more than a year ago.

Miller is still working as an editor and posting on social media.

“Thanks to The Herald/Kelowna Courier for your support. I’m starting my 18th year with Okanagan Newspaper Group,” Miller wrote in a post on Jan. 1. “There no place I’d rather be on a holiday than in my office. Honestly. I never mind working the holidays.”