A judge has ordered former Democratic State Representative Justin Miller to 18 months of probation and 250 hours of community service for communications fraud.
Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams accused Miller last June of taking more than $24,000 from his re-election campaign. Miller had access to the account as McAdams campaign manager.
In October, Miller was charged with and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree felony communications fraud, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He also resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives.
On Monday, Third District Court Judge Randall Skanchy downgraded Miller’s felony charge to a class A misdemeanor. In exchange, Miller had to pay back the money he owed and agree to complete his probation.
In a statement, Mayor McAdams wife and former campaign treasurer Julie McAdams said Miller had not accepted responsibility for the full scope of his embezzlement, which she says spans nearly two years. She says she hopes investigators will look into additional allegations based on the findings of a forensic accountant that show Miller might still owe the campaign as much as $80,000.
Miller told reporters Monday he deeply regrets pocketing the money.
