Miller
By Sheryl Roadcap
PIQUA — A Piqua man who was charged with aggravated murder, among other charges, after an August 2023 shooting at Fountain Park in Piqua which resulted in the death of an 18-year-old male and the injury of another, changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in the Common Pleas Court of Miami County.
Cory Miller, 21, entered a guilty plea on one count of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony, and one count of attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, according to court records. The change of plea is part of a plea agreement, which means the other charges he was previously facing have been dismissed.
Aside from the aggravated murder and attempted murder charges, Miller had also been charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; and complicity charges, which is a third-degree felony. Court documents say the first four charges contain a three-year firearm specification. To all of those charges brought in 2023, Miller had also entered a not guilty plea.
On Aug. 4, 2023, Piqua Police was dispatched to the 1300 block of Forest Avenue on a report of a shooting. Officers arrived to find Deacon Graham, 18, of Piqua, dead, and another victim wounded in the area of Fountain Park.
Miller was taken into custody at his home on Madison Avenue hours later around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6.
According to court documents, aggravated murder carries the possibility of a mandatory life sentence, with parole eligibility after 20, 25, or 30 years or a mandatory life sentence without parole eligibility. Attempted aggravated murder, court documents say, could carry the minimum of three to 11 years, or a maximum of up to 16.5 years in prison.
Miller is scheduled to appear again in the Common Pleas Court of Miami County in October for sentencing.
