Chad Oscar Miller
On the 6th of March 2017, Chad Miller faced charges related to the Firearms Act within this court. The accusations included two counts of possessing firearms without a valid firearms license, two counts of having unregistered firearms, and one count of failing to adhere to the Firearms Regulations.
At that time, a sentence of one year and eight months in prison was decreed, with a non-parole period of 10 months. This sentence was suspended upon agreeing to abide by a two-year good behaviour bond. On the 19th of October 2017, an application to revoke the suspended sentence was dealt with by the court, excusing the breach and extending the bond by an additional two months.
Later, on the 8th of July 2021, you were again brought before this court for further breaches of the Firearms Act. This time, the charges involved possessing three firearms, including a sawn-off .22 calibre, without a firearms license, and holding ammunition without a permit or license.
This led to a sentence of imprisonment for two years, two months, and 19 days, with a non-parole period of one year and four months, despite prior identical offences. However, despite this history, the sentence was suspended again, subject to a two-year bond with specific conditions aimed at assisting your rehabilitation.
However, subsequent applications arose to revoke the suspended sentence due to continued illicit substance use. Instances of testing positive for amphetamines, cannabis, and buprenorphine were recorded on various occasions.
Reports from your Community Corrections Officer highlighted sporadic engagement with supervision, missed appointments, and a lack of commitment to improving your situation. Despite efforts to support your mental health, you expressed disinterest, hindering your prospects for rehabilitation.
Conclusively, it was noted by your Community Corrections Officer that you seemed unwilling to comply with the bond's conditions, leading to a recommendation against further supervision.
Aside from breaching the bond by using illicit substances, separate charges were levelled against you, including contravening bail agreements and drug-related driving offences, all indicating a significant number of violations.
Your repeated breaches led to the revocation of the suspended sentence, considering the continuous use of illicit substances and consistent failure to adhere to the bond's conditions, signifying a disregard for court obligations.
Considering reports and circumstances, including your former partner's battle with ovarian cancer, now separated but caring for your child, special circumstances were acknowledged, leading to a reduction in your overall sentence.
Reviewing the various offences related to bail breaches and drug-related driving, guilty pleas did grant some reduction in the imposed sentences, although imprisonment terms were determined for each offence, with considerations for guilty pleas and unique circumstances.
The cumulative effect of these breaches resulted in an aggregated imprisonment term concurrent with the revoked suspended sentence, ultimately leading to a total sentence of two years, two months, and 19 days, commencing from the date of your arrest on the 30th of March 2023.
