Newspaper article in the Ironwood Daily Globe after Dons trial.

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Rapist faces prison

Violent case included seven guilty verdicts

By Ralph Ansami
Globe News Editor

A pre-sentence inestigation is under way after an Iron County jury found a 37 year old Oma man guilty of seven of eight rape and hostage-related charges.

The jury deliberated about 3 hours late into Friday evening before finding Donald Miller, of ox 401, Hurley Rt 1, guilty on the seven charges. Miller was found not guilty of having intercourse with the woman without her consent by use of a weapon on Oct. 8, but he was found guilty of a similar felony count on Oct. 18. That count carries a sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

The pre-sentence investiation was ordered by Judge Patrick Madden. It will take 45 days to complete, court officials said today.

The jury also found Miller guilty of:

-Reckless endangerment on Oct 8 and Oct 18, both misdemeanors

-Causing bodily harm to the victim on Oct 8 and Oct 18, both misdemeanors

-Intentionally confining or restraining the victim on Oct 18, a felony that is punishable by up to two years in prison.

-Possessing drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske said the case he presented closely followed the criminal complaint signed by Iron County Sheriff Robert Bruneau.

Deputies Joe Robinson and James Wicklund were assigned to the investigation after the sheriff's department received a 12:11 a.m. call on Oct 19 from a friend of the victim. She said Miller would not allow the victim to leave his house at 401 Koehmsted Road.

The victim told officers how Miller tried to choke her, placed a gun to her head, urinated on her and bit her before demanding sex.

"I thought he was going to bite the flesh right off my body", she said.

After the alleged sexual assault on Oct 8, the woman said Miller "mellowed out, became calm, started apologizing. He asked me not to say anything. I said I wouldn't because I was afraid he would start over".

Testimony showed he did "start over" on the evening of Oct 18, when he urinated on her head, poured cologne on her and forced her into the shower.

She tried to run away, but Miller dragged her by the hair back into the house, before sexually assaulting her again, the complaint said.

Deputies searched Miller's house with a search warrant on Oct 21. finding the drug paraphernalia.