CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Doniphan man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Tuesday for 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, was sentenced to 300 months on the felonies of kidnapping and felon in possession of a firearm by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell.
Upon Miller's release from prison, Sorrell said, Limbaugh ordered the man serve a five-year period of supervised release.
At the time of his Jan. 30 plea, Miller admitted on March 8, 2017, he entered the Kennett home of his victim and shocked her with a stun gun.
Miller, according to earlier reports, had made arrangements to visit his then 17-month-old daughter that day, but had arrived earlier than expected and entered the home without knocking or announcing his presence.
After being zapped with the stun gun, the woman reportedly fell to the floor and a struggle with Miller ensued.
As the woman attempted to escape, the plea agreement says Miller pulled a knife from his pocket and severely cut her hand.
The victim reportedly ceased struggling and obeyed Miller's commands.
Miller sexually assaulted the woman in her home, then took her and their daughter from Kennett into Arkansas and back into Missouri, arriving in Ripley County along Current River at an area known as Bay Nothing.
Upon arriving there, Miller again sexually assaulted the woman, who "managed to escape from Miller and get back in the (vehicle)," 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 off into the woods.
The woman then drove to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where she sought treatment for the cut, which resulted in serious physical injury. The authorities also were contacted at that point.
Miller evaded law enforcement for 10 days before his arrest.
During those 10 days, 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, who was captured after he broke into a local cabin and stole a handgun, had prior felony convictions of theft in 2005 and 2009 and financial exploitation of the elderly in 2007. Those convictions prohibited him from possessing firearms.
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. May 9 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.