Gideon L. Miller, 32, of North Mill Street, Loganton, was sentenced Monday afternoon to a maximum term of 22 years in a State Correctional Institution on 10 counts of Indecent Assault, 3^rd degree felonies, and Indecent Assault, 1^st degree misdemeanors.  Miller will be eligible to apply for parole after 5 years.  Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury imposed the sentence on Miller on the charges stemming from Miller sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl.  The Commonwealth was represented by ADA Edward Ferguson at sentencing.

During the hour and a half long sentencing hearing, the defendant, who was represented by Attorney Donald Martino, had witnesses testify about “counseling” the defendant was receiving through his church.  ADA Ferguson questioned whether or not the facility, called Whispering Hope, was certified to provide appropriate counseling.  Witnesses ultimately revealed that no staff at Whispering Hope have any education or certification in any field related to providing treatment to sex offenders. The Defense also called a witness to testify about the counseling the victim is receiving at a facility called Shepherd’s Pathway, which testimony revealed to be another church-run facility where young offenders are sent.  On cross-examination, the witness would not reveal where she obtained her training to work with children. Neither facility was shown to hold any state certification to engage in sex offender treatment.

ADA Ferguson requested the Court to impose a sentence that would send a message that this type of behavior is completely unacceptable. 

Judge Salisbury was stern with pointing out the fact that the 6-year-old girl is a victim and the only offender was Gideon Miller.  Judge Salisbury stated that some people would call the defendant’s behavior animalistic but when on to say that animals don’t even treat their young the way Miller did, and stressed to those in the courtroom that the 6-year-old victim will deal with what happened to her for the rest of her life.  Salisbury said he was imposing a sentence that would send a message that this behavior is absolutely deplorable and that Miller was in need of an object lesson.   Salisbury added, “I hope you wake up every night and thing about what you did to (the victim)”.  Gideon Miller was also classified as a Sexually Violent Predator and a lifetime Megan’s Law registrant.