Benton County Attorney Accused of Criminal Sexual Conduct

FOLEY -- Benton County's top prosecutor has been charged with criminal sexual conduct involving a teenage girl.

County Attorney Philip Miller is charged with 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under 16-years-old, and two counts of 4th-degree criminal sexual conduct. One of those charges involves being older than 48 months than the victim who is between 13-and-15-years-old and the other involves being in a position of authority over the victim.

According to the charges, the 60-year-old Miller is charged with groping a 15-year-old girl both over her clothing and underneath her clothing in March 2020 and again "one or two months" after the first incident.

Court records allege the girl was in her bed when Miller came into her room and sexually assaulted her on those occasions.

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Members of the victim's household testified that the girl had become withdrawn and would try to avoid being around Miller.

Court records show Miller was interviewed by investigators and denied ever groping the girl or touching her anywhere else that would be of a sexual nature.

The charges have been filed in Benton County District Court, but the case has been referred to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for the prosecution to avoid a conflict of interest.

Benton County Administrator Monty Headley says Miller is an elected official and therefore not subject to standard paid administrative leave practices.

In a written statement from Miller's attorneys Christa Groshek and Katherine Claffey...

"Mr. Miller staunchly denies the allegations and asserts his innocence - which he has been doing since the inception of the investigation. Mr. Miller provided a voluntary statement to the police and denied the allegations. As a veteran prosecutor, Mr. Miller respects the court processes and has faith that the truth will come out and the public will see these allegations are false. As he has afforded thousands of defendants due process of law, he hopes that he is allowed the same.

"We reiterate that charges are only allegations and they themselves are not proof of any wrongdoing. The prosecutor will now have to attempt to prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a unanimous 12-person jury. Mr. Miller is confident that the State will fail in this endeavor, and he looks forward to his trial."