Shop theft nets 90 days in klink

Kimberly Miller, 43, Kennewick, one of the suspects in a rural shop theft case here last January, was sentenced to three months in jail Friday after she pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second degree theft. Miller was rated with an offender score of two because of two prior drug convictions in Benton County.

Miller was also ordered to pay $1,800 in fines and fees, including $500 in restitution to Roger Guiney of Garfield, victim of the Jan. 18 theft. The court allowed Miller to reimburse the court for attorney fees with 50 hours of public service work.

Miller was represented in court Friday afternoon by Teresa Keene who was appointed earlier in the day. John Hart of Pullman, who was originally appointed to represent Miller, asked the court Friday morning to withdraw from the case. Hart told the court he didn’t believe he could represent Miller because of disagreements they had about how they would proceed. He asked for the dismissal after he and Miller had a loud verbal exchange in the courthouse hallway before appearing in court.

Miller, who told the court she was ready to admit the theft charge, also said she didn’t believe she was being properly represented by Hart. She told the court she was ready to admit the charge but wanted to ascertain the thefts took place in Whitman County.

The deputy’s report on the Garfield thefts said Miller was with two other suspects when they committed the thefts at the Garfield shop. One of the other suspects, Darin Williams, 43, Kennewick, has admitted charges related to a Jan. 20 break-in of a shop on Highway 26 in the Dusty area. Williams has been scheduled for sentencing here Friday.

Miller, who was originally charged with burglary, was allowed pre-trial release Feb.15 after posting $10,000 bond. She was ordered to report to jail to begin her three-month sentence Friday.