A Bryan man is headed to prison for the fifth time. That’s after a Brazos County district court jury convicted then sentenced 59 year old Milton Rederick Miller for unlawful possession of a gun by a felon. Due to his criminal history, the jury sentenced Miller to 45 years in prison. A news release from the district attorney’s office says due to Miller’s criminal history, he faced a sentence of between 25 and 99 years. The news release also said Miller represented himself and the jury returned a verdict in 30 minutes. This case involved an incident on New Year’s Eve in 2021 when Miller was in possession of a handgun and an airsoft pistol when he entered a Bryan home without permission. WTAW News added Miller’s middle name because he is one of four men in Brazos County district court records with the same first and last name. District court records also show a Milton Miller Jr., a Milton Marquis Miller, and a Milton Lewis Miller. Additionally, Brazos County jail records show a Milton Miller who also goes by Darrell Leon Bishop. News release from the Brazos County district attorney’s office: On January 8, 2025, a Brazos County jury sentenced Milton Miller to 45 years in prison after finding him guilty of Unlawful Possession of Firearm by a Felon the previous day. On December 31, 2021, police received a call from a Bryan resident, who reported that he had encountered a man inside his house who did not have consent to be there. The caller al-so reported that the man, who had left the residence after being asked to do so several times, had a firearm. Officers with the Bryan Police Department responded to the area and located a man matching the description given by the caller. The man, who was later identified as Milton Miller, had a .22 caliber revolver and a black airsoft pistol in the waistband of the back of his pants. After learning that Miller had been previously convicted of a felony, officers arrested him for the offense of Unlawful Possession of Firearm by a Felon. Just before jury selection began, the defendant decided to represent himself, rather than be represented by an attorney. During the guilt stage of trial, the jury heard from the resident who witnessed Miller inside his home with a firearm, the officers who located the firearm and arrested Miller, and Miller’s parole officer, who testified that he was a convicted felon. The jury convict-ed the defendant in less than 30 minutes. At the punishment stage of trial, the defendant elected to have a Brazos County jury assess his punishment. The jury heard that the defendant had been sentenced to prison on four prior occasions, for a variety of crimes including Sexual Assault. The defendant was sentenced to 50 years out of Dallas County for Burglary of a motor Vehicle. Because of his non compliance in prison the defendant spent 25 years in prison on his Burglary of a Motor Vehicle case before he was released on parole. Because of his prior prison trips the defendant’s punishment range was increased by law to 25-99 years in prison. Statement from assistant district attorneys Ryan Golden & Mark Stahman: “It is against the law for a person who has been convicted of a felony to possess a firearm in public, much less to possess a firearm in some-one else’s home. This jury’s verdict sends a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated in Brazos County.”
