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| Ex-officer convicted of raping inmate |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 07/12/2004 |
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A former women's prison officer convicted of raping an inmate was sentenced last week to 12 1/2 years behind bars. Michael Lawrence Miller, 35, was convicted in February of raping the female inmate in 2000 at Fort Worth's (Texas) Federal Medical Center-Carswell. He was convicted on five counts: aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a ward, abusive sexual contact, abusive sexual contact with a ward and assault in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The assault charge later was dismissed in light of Miller's conviction on the more serious counts. Miller, who faced up to life in prison, has been in federal custody since his conviction. The victim, Marilyn Shirley, sued Miller in 2002 and won a $4 million award in a civil trial in federal court. Although many rape victims do not want their identities revealed, Shirley said she went public to show the officer that she is not afraid and to warn other inmates. Shirley said she was serving time for a drug-related offense when she was assaulted. She said she saved her sweatpants and hid them under her locker, hoping they someday could be tested. She told prison officials about the rape after she was released six months later. "Miller's abhorrent behavior is inexcusable, and is certainly not representative of the fine folks at the Bureau of Prisons who are highly motivated, professional employees," U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper said in a statement. |
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