By Todd Bartley, TalkWilliamsport.com

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

As part of its ongoing investigation into the “criminal sexual misconduct” incident which occurred during the Williamsport Area High School baseball team trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the spring of 2018; Right to Know Law requests continue to be made of the WASD by this author.

In recent months, ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 was charged by South Carolina law enforcement authorities and remained a captain on the Williamsport Area High School baseball team until his recent graduation.

Since the first Right to Know Law request was filed in 2018 by this author; the WASD has engaged in very consistent behavior to obstruct the existence of “public records”.

Contained within the first WASD Right to Know Law responses was a denial of background check and clearance documents required by Pennsylvania law to have interaction on behalf of school districts with children.

Those requested documents were denied by the Williamsport Area School District.

TalkWilliamsport.com contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Education for this story and received the following response from Kendall Alexander, Press Secretary (she, her, hers), Pennsylvania Department of Education:

TalkWilliamsport.com: Can you provide a copy of the PA 153 form school employees must fill out as part of obtaining clearances?

Also, would a DUI arrest and/or conviction preclude a potential school employee from obtaining a PA 153 clearance?

Alexander: There are three different background checks: child abuse clearance, PA State Police criminal history, and federal criminal history.  More information about the required clearances and how to obtain them is available here: https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Clearances/Pages/default.aspx; https://www.education.pa.gov/Policy-Funding/BECS/Purdons/Pages/BackgroundChecks.aspx. 

 

“There is an employment prohibition associated with certain DUI convictions. A school employee/prospective school employee who has been convicted of a DUI offense graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree AND who has been convicted more than once of DUI is barred from school employment for a period of three years following the expiration of the sentence pursuant to 24 P.S. 1-111(f.1)(3).”

On a follow-up from TalkWilliasmport.com Alexander added:

“It is not possible to determine whether the individual in question is subject to the ban because we do not have the individual’s full criminal history. School districts handle scenarios on a case-by-case basis keeping the law in mind. Volunteers are also up to local decision by the school districts. Their decisions are ultimately guided with the Child Protective Services law in mind, which is under DHS.

PDE cannot speculate on any individual case without knowing all the details involved.

It would be best to reach out to the school district as they will have more information and be able to inform you on how they have handled the matter.”

TalkWilliamsport.com reached out to DHS and were referred back to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

 

RYAN MILLER SECOND DUI IN DEPTH PUBLIC RECORD

TalkWilliamsport.com obtained the criminal case docket entries from Lycoming County Court public records.

While researching the case, the police report filed on April 5, 2012 regarding the second Ryan Miller DUI reads as follows:

AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE

On 2-19-12 at about 0124 hours Officer Bowers and I were working a DUI Roving Patrol for Lycoming County in the city of Williamsport during Mardi-Gras. While traveling west in the 100 block of W 4th St we noticed a black 2008 Range Rover bearing a Washington Registration (REDACTED BY AUTHOR) as it pulled in front of us.

The vehicle was completely straddling the center line and then jerked hard into the right lane not signaling the lane change. Then the vehicle appeared to fully accelerate for a half block before turning right onto William St.

I initiated a vehicle stop on that vehicle in the 400 block of William St.

I made contact with the driver identified by his PA Drivers License as Ryan L. Miller.

His speech was slurred badly, his eyes were dilated and bloodshot, and I noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He said he had just left the Cell Block. I asked Miller to step out of the vehicle and perform SFST’s. 

(EDITOR’S NOTE: SFST’s is Standardized Field Sobriety Testing)

The first test administered was the HGN. He exhibited lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and nystagmus onset prior to 45 degrees in both eyes for a maximum 6 out of 6 clues.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: HGN is Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is a series of three tests for the smoothness and accuracy of eye movement control. The eye control becomes visibly disrupted to the examiner when a suspect is impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.)

The second test was the Walk and Turn. Miller was not able to keep his balance during the instructional phase (1 clue), he missed his heel to toe on every step (1 clue), he stepped off the line on 3 occasions (1 clue), and he made an improper turn (1 clue). He exhibited 4 out of 8 clues for this test.

The third test was the One Leg Stand. Miller exhibited 0 out of 8 clues on this test.

The 4th test showed lack of convergence in his left eye. I asked Miller to submit to a PBT but he refused. Miller was taken into custody for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol and transported to the DUI center for processing where he did give a blood sample.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: PBT is Portable Breath Test)

The Toxicology Report came back from the NMS labs showing Ryan Miller had a BAC of .209% at the time his blood was drawn at 0158 hours ON 2-19-12.

I, SGT DAVID PLETZ, BEING DULY SWORN ACCORDING TO THE LAW, DEPOSE AND SAY THAT THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE FOREGOING AFFIDAVIT ARE TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATIONA AND BELIEF.

 

STATE LAW DEFINES DUI

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Vehicles website:

In 2003, Pennsylvania took a major leap toward eradicating drunk driving through the passing of Act 24.

In a nutshell, Act 24 made it easier for law enforcement to confront the drinking and driving problem by dropping the legal blood alcohol content limit for drivers down to 0.08%, and it introduced alcohol treatment into the penalty package.

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Defined

The state operates behind a three-tiered definition for DUI based on a driver’s BAC:

• General impairment: 0.08% to 0.099%
• High BAC: 0.10% to 0.159%
• Highest BAC: 0.16% and up OR a controlled substance

Translation, Ryan Miller had a Blood Alcohol Content of nearly three times the legal limit.

According to the addresses listed on the Police Report, from 400 William Street to the Miller residence in Montoursville; the trip would have been 8.7 miles and taken approximately 15 minutes to travel.

 

COACHING BASEBALL FOR MONTOURSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WHEN SECOND DUI OCCURRED

According to information obtained from the Montoursville Area School District, Ryan Miller was employed as  a paid assistant baseball coach in 2012.

Ryan Miller was hired on January 10, 2012 and paid a coaching stipend of $3,000 for that baseball season.

Miller left the employment of the Montoursville Area School District on December 21, 2012. There is no disposition as to whether he was fired or resigned.

The Williamsport Area High School athletics website confirmed his time at Montoursville as follows:

Coaching Experience: 2010-2012 – Montoursville High School Assistant

 

TIMELINE OF MILLER COACHING AND DUI CASE

Miller Hired by MASD: 1/10/2012

Miller Arrested “for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol, BAC of .209%”: 2/19/2012

DUI Criminal Complaint Date: 4/4/2012

CHARGES: 1 M1 75 § 3802 §§ C** DUI: Highest Rte of Alc (BAC .16+) 2nd Off 02/19/2012

Initial Issuing Authority: Allen P. Page III, Magistrate Judge

EDITOR’S NOTE: Allen P. Page III is the father of Allen Page IV, currently representing Miller in civil litigation against this author

Ryan Miller hires George Edward Lepley Jr. to represent him in the second DUI case.

Lepley is the same attorney who authored the “Lepley Letter” of May 31, 2018 threatening the Williamsport Area School District with legal action of they punished ALLEGED PERPETRATOR #1 in the Myrtle Beach “criminal sexual misconduct” case.

Bail Set & Posting Date: 5/31/2012 Unsecured $1,500.00

6/18/2012 Arraignments & Awaiting Sentencing 1:30 pm Courtroom No. 4 Judge Marc F. Lovecchio

Guilty Plea

Final Disposition: 1 / DUI: Highest Rte of Alc (BAC .16+) 2nd Off Guilty Plea M1 75 § 3802 §§ C**

6/29/2012 Awaiting PSI

6/29/2012 Awaiting Sentencing

7/1/2012 Dr. Timothy Bowers begins as Montoursville Area School District Superintendent

7/9/2012 Sentenced/Penalty Imposed 11:30 am Courtroom No. 5 Judge Joy Reynolds

Min of 90.00 Days, Max of 90.00 Days (Jail Time)
Other Confinement  – Probation
Min of 5.00 Years, Max of 5.00 Years

Defendant was committed to prison on July 9, 2012 and released from prison on October 6, 2012.

1/15/2014 Butts, Nancy L. – Order Imposing Community Service 50 hours)

1/15/2014 Fedele, Suzanne – Notice Under PRCP 576 Filed

2/14/2014 Court of Common Pleas – Lycoming County – Penalty Satisfied

1/26/2015 Butts, Nancy L. – Order Granting Motion for Early Termination of Probation

1/26/2015 Fedele, Suzanne – Notice Under PRCP 576 Filed

Spring 2015 Williamsport Area High School Pitching Coach

2/23/2015 Court of Common Pleas – Lycoming County Delinquency Notice Filed – 75 Days Overdue

2016 Dr. Timothy Bowers hired as Williamsport Area School District Superintendent

2016 Ryan Miller replaces Corey Twigg as Williamsport Area High School Head Baseball Coach

March 2018 – “Criminal Sexual Misconduct” occurs teammate on teammate in the team hotel in Myrtle Beach

April 2018 – Ryan Miller resigns days after showing up and coaching a game highly intoxicated

January 2020 – Ryan Gardner is sworn in as Lycoming County District Attorney

May 2020 – Ryan Gardner refers to “Criminal Sexual Misconduct” case to PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro

Present day – Office of PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro continues its investigation of the “Criminal Sexual Misconduct” case

 

COACHING BASEBALL FOR WILLIAMSPORT HIGH SCHOOL PRIOR TO PA 124 ALLOWS IT?

In an ironic twist to this story, some how Ryan Miller was able to coach the Williamsport Area High School baseball team in the 2014-2015 season (spring 2015).

Did this fly in the face of what the WASD actually lists on their own human resources page?

The “Arrest or Conviction PDE6004 form” clearly enumerates the following for those convicted of a second DUI:

 A reportable offense enumerated under 24 P.S. §1-111(f.1) consists of any of the following:
(1) An offense graded as a felony offense of the first, second or third degree, other than one of the
offenses enumerated under 24 P.S. §1-111(e), if less than (10) ten years has elapsed from the date
of expiration of the sentence for the offense.
(2) An offense graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree, other than one of the offenses enumerated
under 24 P.S. §1-111(e), if less than (5) five years has elapsed from the date of expiration of the
sentence for the offense.
(3) An offense under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a), (b), (c) or (d)(relating to driving under influence of
alcohol or controlled substance) graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree under 75 Pa.C.S. §
3803 (relating to grading), if the person has been previously convicted of such an offense and less
than (3) three years has elapsed from the date of expiration of the sentence for the most recent
offense.

So when Lycoming County President Judge Nancy Butts ended the probation phase of the Miller sentence that started the clock on the three year ban as stated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“There is an employment prohibition associated with certain DUI convictions. A school employee/prospective school employee who has been convicted of a DUI offense graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree AND who has been convicted more than once of DUI is barred from school employment for a period of three years following the expiration of the sentence pursuant to 24 P.S. 1-111(f.1)(3).”

Or was it another baseball courtesy in the birthplace of Little League Baseball?

 

LITTLE LEAGUE CONNECTION

In 2016 Ryan Miller served as an alternate team host for the Little League World Series.

How is this possible when Little League International has stringent background and criminal history checks for team hosts and media?

Lee Miller, father of Ryan Miller and his current employer (Dixon AC&R) as noted on the Williamsport High School athletics website was just announced as a team host for the 2021 Little League World Series.

Lee Miller will serve for the 20th year along with the former Chief Detective in Lycoming County Willie Weber now in his 14th year as team hosts.

Weber waited five months to inform the Myrtle Beach Police Department of the “Criminal Sexual Misconduct” case; and only after they contacted his office.

Could Thomas Marshall, Chief Counsel for Little League International and who is currently representing Miller in civil litigation against this author provide insight into this?

 

RYAN MILLER COACHING PROFILE STILL REMAINS ON WASD ATHLETICS WEBSITE

 

Head Baseball Coach

Phone: (REDACTED BY AUTHOR)
Email: (REDACTED BY AUTHOR)

Hometown:  Montoursville, PA
High School Career: Pitcher – Mountoursville High School (SVL Conference Player of the Year 2005 & 2006, Sun Gazette Pitcher of the Year 2006).
College: Rider University – Pitcher (New Jersey Rookie of the Year 2007, 2 NCAA Regional Tournaments)
Coaching Experience: 2010-2012 – Montoursville High School Assistant, 2015 Williamsport Area High School Pitching Coach.
Occupation: Dixon A.C. & R Corporation – Vice President of Operations

 

CONCLUSION

With all of the corporate knowledge accumulated since the founding of Little League about the game of baseball in this area; all of the players, coaches, managers, parents and fans – the best the Williamsport Area School District could do for a head coach was a 2-time DUI offender?

That decision speaks volumes of the level of applicant for the job.

Is it any wonder how attorney George Lepley keeps appearing in these cases?

Who would ever foreseen Ryan Miller having to resign after showing up to a game highly intoxicated?

Are these the things that happen to regular people?