Miller enters guilty plea

Monday, November 15, 2010
Robert L. Miller

Fort Scott resident Robert L. Miller's trial was canceled after he entered a guilty plea Nov. 12.

The sentencing hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Jan. 13, 2011, at the Bourbon County District Court. Bourbon County Attorney Terri Johnson and Miller's attorney, Charles O'Hara of Wichita, agreed to recommend a sentence of 43 months for the charge of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and four months for the battery charge, for a total consecutive sentence of 47 months.

Miller, 24, was originally charged with first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Tynce Joles in December 2009. Friday, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit second- degree murder and one count of battery, according to Bourbon County Court documents.

According to the Fort Scott Police Department, Miller was arrested just after the Dec. 12, 2009 incident.

Shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, 2009, officers with the Fort Scott Police Department responded to the 300 block of North Ford Street after a disturbance was called in and gun shots had been reported fired.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a vehicle near the intersection of Elm and Mineral streets with Joles unresponsive in the driver's seat. He was transported by ambulancµe to Mercy Health Center where he later died.

Miller was originally scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 11, but it was rescheduled for Nov. 15.