Man who hit, injured Montana soldier gets life sentence

Jason Allen Miller was found guilty in April on all counts, including attempted willful homicide, criminal endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and aggravated kidnapping, along with a sentencing enhancement for use of a weapon, according to a press release. from the Montana Attorney General's Office.

In addition to the life sentence without the possibility of parole in Montana State Prison, Miller was sentenced to an additional 60 years on the other charges. He also owes more than $1.2 million to the state for the officer's medical and trial costs and more than $75,000 in restitution to the officer's family.

“Today we made clear that violence against Montana’s law enforcement officers will not be tolerated,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said in the statement. “I am proud of our prosecutors in the Attorney General's Office who helped hold the perpetrator accountable and ensured justice was served in this case.

Miller had failed to report to probation and parole in April 2023 when a warrant was issued for his arrest. On Feb. 16, 2023, law enforcement located Miller near Eureka and pursued him after he failed to stop his pickup truck, the Missoulian previously reported.

Miller eventually stopped his truck in a snowy area, where Patrolman Lewis Johnson and a sheriff's deputy began to approach the truck with weapons drawn. Miller then accelerated and struck Johnson with his truck, before running over him and continuing to drive away. As he was driving, a woman jumped out of the passenger door of the truck.

Johnson suffered a punctured lung, damaged liver, head trauma, broken ribs, broken arm, broken leg and severe spinal trauma, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser organized on behalf of his family .