On Thursday, Judge Greg Stephens sentenced Mathews to an indefinite prison term of 20 to 25.5 years in prison.
It was an agreed to sentence from both the prosecution and defense, which does not happen often, at least in Butler County.
“I generally don’t have much control over sentencing, but in this case did,” said Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser. “I was agreeable to the length of time he will serve, compared to if it was a straight murder charge.”
A murder conviction carries a life sentence, but with possibility of parole after 15 years.
“This is an assured sentence, and I don’t have to worry about having a disagreement with the parole authority in the future,” Gmoser said.
The courtroom was filled with Miller’s family and friends, who remembered him as a hard-working man who loved his family, children and animals.
Miller’s brother read letters from his mother, stepmother and sister. They urged the judge to give Mathews the maximum sentence.
“I understand my son put himself in a bad situation that night, but he did not deserve to lose his life. He was a hard-working man who loved life and believed in God,” Miller’s mother Tracy Campbell said in the statement read in court. She said “the murderer” deserved the death penalty for what he did to her son.
Mathews offered a written apology to Miller’s family that was read by his attorney Jim Hardin before sentencing.
“The truth of the matter is I am a simple man, a humble man and I am an apologetic man … by taking the plea, I realize I cannot bring back Mr. Miller. I cannot restore him to his family and loved ones. I am truly hopeful that this will show his family that I am sorry and allow me to better myself while inside in prison and make something of myself by way of atonement,” Mathews’ statement said.
The judge said, “Very clearly Mr. Miller was someone who meant a lot to a lot of people.” He added he had receive a number of letters from friends and loved ones.
It is one of those times where there is a “feeling of helplessness on behalf of the judge because while I can impose a punishment in a situation, this is one of those things I cannot fix. I can not make this better … all I can do is the best I can do,” Stephens said.
Mathews was ruled competent to stand trial in January after multiple forensic psychological evaluations and a review of interrogation tapes and jailhouse calls.
Prosecutors say Mathews killed Miller on June 25, 2023, in the parking lot outside the Dayton Lane Pub.
Mathews was arrested two days after the shooting and was held in lieu of $1 million bond.
Miller, 34, of Hamilton, died at a hospital after the shooting.
The shooting happened behind the bar where Miller had been a patron. He was “found unconscious in his vehicle with two gunshot wounds,” according to the police report.
Miller was shot twice in the chest, but he may not have been in the car when he was shot — a full round was found in front of a car tire, according to police and dispatch records.
When arrested, Mathews was in possession of a loaded 9-millimeter handgun in the pocket of a sweatshirt jacket, according to police and court records.
Miller attended Hamilton High School, was raised by his grandmother and spent several years in Kentucky, according to his family members.
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