| For Immediate Release Case # 06WF1974
October 30, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
HUNTINGTON BEACH MAN FACES TRIAL FOR
SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 83-YEAR-OLD WIDOW
AFTER BREAKING INTO HER HOME
SANTA ANA – A Huntington Beach man faces trial today for violently sexually assaulting an 83-year-old woman after breaking into her Rossmoor home. Jeffrey Miller, 38, Huntington Beach, is charged with four counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object by force, first degree residential burglary, first degree robbery, and sentencing enhancements for committing a sexual assault during the course of a burglary and committing a crime against a vulnerable victim. He has a prior strike conviction for a 2002 residential burglary. Miller faces a minimum sentence of 30 years to life if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin today, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-38, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On July 12, 2006, 83-year-old Jane Doe, a widow who lived alone in Rossmoor, was watching television in the living room of her home of 35 years. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Miller is accused of jumping over the fence into Jane Doe’s back yard and breaking into her home by crawling through a bathroom window after removing the screen. He is accused of threatening to kill Jane Doe if she screamed and demanding money and jewelry. Miller is accused of forcing the terrified Jane Doe to the floor and hitting her in the head and ribs. He is accused of instructing Jane Doe not to look at him and sexually assaulting her while wearing gardening gloves.
After sexually assaulting her in the living room, Miller is accused of forcing Jane Doe onto the floor in a corner of the kitchen and sexually assaulting her using a sink hose. Miller is accused of then leaving Jane Doe on the floor and ransacking her house. He is accused of stealing jewelry and valuables and putting them into a pillowcase.
The defendant is accused of jumping over the fence into the victim’s yard and breaking into her home. He is accused of brutally sexually assaulting her multiple times in different rooms of the house. He is also accused of moving the victim from one room of the house to another and demanding money and jewelry.
A neighbor, who knew Jane Doe lived alone, witnessed Miller jump over the fence into Jane Doe’s yard and called 9-1-1. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) responded with patrol cars and a helicopter. While ransacking Jane Doe’s home, Miller is accused of hearing the helicopter and attempting to destroy evidence by vacuuming and organizing the house. He is accused of attempting to flee the scene by running out the back door of the house, but was arrested by OCSD deputies, who had surrounded the home.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Kal Kaliban is prosecuting this case.
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