(Photo Source: Stephen Yang of The Cortland Voice).
A man who has been accused of manslaughter and other charges in connection to the death of a woman pleaded not guilty in Cortland County Court on Monday.
According to court documents, Joseph R. Miller, 37, allegedly injured and choked a 61-year old female victim on Dec. 22 (2023). According to a City of Cortland police report, the victim sustained fractured ribs and lacerations after Miller assaulted her.
The city police report stated that the victim died on Jan. 6 of this year. According to the report, it was determined that the victim's injuries from the Dec. 22 incident “played a key role” in her death.
Miller was arrested on the day of the incident. He was arrested a second time on Friday (June 21) in Syracuse. After Miller’s case was presented to the Cortland County grand jury, Miller was indicted on manslaughter and other charges, the city police report stated.
The charges against Miller are as follows:
- First-degree manslaughter (under emotional disturbance), a Class-B Felony.
- Second-degree manslaughter (recklessly causing death), a Class-C Felony.
- Third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and second-degree obstruction of governmental administration – all Class-A Misdemeanors.
Court docs stated that when officers attempted to arrest Miller on Dec. 22, he “repeatedly and intentionally slammed” his head on the sidewalk. Docs noted that Miller pulled his hands away while officers tried to put him in custody. Miller also “refused to stand on his own feet,” to walk to the officers’ patrol vehicle and “stiffened” his body and used it as dead weight, according to court docs.
Miller is currently being held at Cortland County Jail. His bail is set at $25,000 cash / $50,000 insurance or $100,000 partially-secured surety bond with a 10% deposit.
A future county court appearance has not been scheduled for Miller at this time.
