CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Doniphan, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday afternoon to kidnapping the mother of his child, who he brought through Arkansas to Missouri where he is accused of sexually assaulting her.
Heath Brandon Miller, 36, pleaded guilty as charged to the felonies of kidnapping and felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell.
The agreed-upon facts of the case say on March 8, Miller's daughter (then 17 months old) was living in Kennett, Mo., with her mother. Miller reportedly made arrangements that day to visit the child.
"Miller arrived earlier than scheduled and entered the home ... without knocking or announcing his presence," the plea agreement says. "He entered a bathroom of the residence and accosted (his daughter's mother)."
At the time, Miller reportedly had an electric stun gun in his hand.
"Miller placed the stun gun against (the woman) and stunned her with an electronic shock," causing her to fall to the floor, the agreement further says.
The woman attempted to escape, but Miller reportedly pulled a knife from his pocket.
"(The woman) struggled with Miller, resulting in a severe cut to (her) hand," the plea agreement says. "Miller then took (her) into her bedroom," where he is accused of forcing her to perform a sexual act on him.
The woman reportedly "obeyed Miller's commands" during this time.
Miller subsequently took the woman and their daughter and fled in a 2008 Ford Explorer owned by the woman's mother.
Miller, according to the plea agreement, drove from Kennett into Arkansas, passing through Piggott, before driving back into Missouri and arriving at a location in Ripley County along Current River known as Bay Nothing.
Upon arriving there, Miller is accused of sexually assaulting the woman, who "managed to escape from Miller and get back in the Explorer," the agreement says. "Miller had left the keys in the vehicle, along with the child."
The woman reportedly locked the doors, preventing Miller from entering the SUV.
Miller, according to earlier reports, then walked of into the woods.
The woman then drove to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where she sought treatment the cut, which resulted in serious physical injury. The authorities also were contacted at that point.
"Law enforcement officers began searching for Miller where the crimes were reported," the plea agreement says.
Officers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ripley County Sheriff's Department, Missouri Department of Conversation, Carter County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Forest Service searched for Miller in what earlier was described as an area of dense woods with summer cabins/hunting lodges.
"Miller managed to evade capture for around 10 days," the agreement says. " ... During that 10-day period, Miller broke into a cabin owned by Jeffrey Burkeen ... and stole a Smith & Wesson .22-caliber revolver ... along with some ammunition.
"Miller had hid the revolver before being captured" on March 18.
Officers reportedly later found the pistol, along with other personal effects belonging to Miller, in a nearby abandoned home.
"Miller admitted taking the revolver from Burkeen's cabin," the agreement says.
On March 8, Miller was a convicted felon as he had been convicted of the felony of theft in Monroe County, Ill., in 2005, the felony of theft in Carter County in 2009, and the felony of financial exploitation of the elderly in Monroe County, Ill., in 2007. His convictions prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
After accepting Miller's plea, Sorrell said, Limbaugh set his sentencing for May 1.
Miller faces a maximum punishment of not more than life in prison on the kidnapping charge and not more than 10 years on the weapons charge.
The plea agreement says the government and defense will make a "joint recommendation for a total sentence of 300 months or 25 years" in Miller's case.
At sentencing the government is expected to dismiss the felonies of interstate transport of a stolen vehicle and interstate domestic violence by causing travel of the victim.
Miller also is charged with the unclassified felony of first-degree rape, the Class D felony of second-degree kidnapping and two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action (ACA) in Ripley County.
He is to appear at 9 a.m. March 14 before Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Swindle for a review of his case.
In Dunklin County, Miller is charged with the unclassified felonies of rape and first-degree sodomy, the Class A felony of first-degree assault, the Class B felony of first-degree kidnapping, the Class D felony of second-degree kidnapping and three unclassified felonies of ACA.
No date is set for Miller to appear in Dunklin County before Associate Circuit Judge John Spielman on his charges there.