Editor’s Note: Both plea deals detailed below were accepted in hearings December 16, with both defendants sentenced according to the plea agreements they had previously signed.
SALYERSVILLE – Two sentencing hearings are slated for today in two unrelated but major Magoffin County cases, in which both defendants reportedly took plea deals.
Robert Miller, 62, of SE Licking River Road, in Gunlock, signed a plea deal on November 30, pleaded guilty to two charges of first-degree wanton endangerment, amended down from attempted murder. According to the plea deal, Miller admitted that he wantonly fired multiple shots into a truck occupied by two people, endangering both of their lives. The Commonwealth is recommending the judge sentence Miller to five years on each count, to run consecutively, for a total of 10 years to serve in prison. With the deal, they are also asking to dismiss one charge of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. The plea deal also included a note stating the Commonwealth reserves the issue of restitution for the sentencing hearing.
Miller is scheduled for sentencing on December 16 at 10 a.m. in the case, when the judge can decide whether to accept the amended charges and recommended sentencing.
The attempted murder charges he was originally facing come with a possible penalty of 10 to 20 years each.
Miller has been held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center since April 12, shortly after he was indicted. The charges stem from a July 2020 incident. According to an arrest warrant issued on July 26 last year, Miller allegedly passed a vehicle on KY Rt. 7, blocked the road in front of them, got out of his vehicle and started shooting at the vehicle behind him with a handgun. One person was struck once under the right armpit area, resulting in the bullet being lodged in his chest. Another person was in the vehicle and Kentucky State Police observed multiple bullet holes in the windshield and driver’s door of the car. Miller reportedly drove away after the shooting and police were unable to locate him until the next day, according to police reports.
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On November 29, Willie D. Wireman, 35, of Royalton, signed a plea agreement, pleading guilty to one charge of sexual crimes against animals, a Class D felony, with the Commonwealth offering a recommendation of four years in prison.
Wireman is scheduled for sentencing on December 16 at 10 a.m. in the case, when the judge can decide whether to accept the amended charges and recommended sentencing.
According to the original arrest citation, on June 9, 2021, Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputy Tussey responded to a call reporting a man having sex with a dog in Royalton.
The caller reported that there was a man allegedly naked and with the animal behind a trailer next door.
When Tussey arrived on scene and walked behind the trailer, he found Willy Wireman, 35, of Royalton, just as the caller described, sitting on the ground naked, holding the dog down and sexually assaulting it, according to the police report.
Tussey ordered Wireman to let the dog go and to get his clothes on. Wireman indicated to Tussey while he was being booked at the sheriff’s office that he planned to continue to have sex with the dog.
Wireman was taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where he still remains in custody.
The dog was taken to the Johnson County Animal Shelter, where a rescue has been arranged, pending the court proceedings.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
