Manslaughter convict arrested on DUI charge

SANDPOINT — An Oldtown man on probation for a drug charge stemming from a deadly traffic accident south of Priest Lake was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Jason Charles Miller was arrested early Saturday morning and arrested after failing field sobriety tests, according to court documents. He’s also charged with violating the terms of his probation on a methamphetamine possession charge related to the fatal collision on Highway 57 in 2006.

Miller, 29, was convicted by a Bonner County jury of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and possession of meth. Jurors concluded Miller was overtaking vehicles recklessly, which caused the death of Richard Martin Boge, a 78-year-old from Spokane, Wash.

While awaiting trial for manslaughter and drug possession, Miller was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, a charge which he was also convicted of. He was given six-month jail sentences in the misdemeanor cases and a suspended prison sentence of two to seven years on the felony drug possession case.

Jurisdiction was retained on the felony drug conviction, which qualified Miller for release onto supervised probation after serving six months in a state prison.

His probation was amended to unsupervised last year, after passing random drug tests, completing his community service obligations and paying all his fines and costs, court records show.

Miller was stopped near Oldtown after allegedly speeding on U.S. Highway 2 shortly before 1 a.m.

A sheriff deputy’s report alleged that Miller had slow, slurred speech, in addition to bloodshot eyes and dilated pupils.

Miller denied drinking alcohol, but made remarks about using marijuana, the report said.

Miller’s defense counsel, Doug Phelps, entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf.