BALTIMORE, MD – Harrison James Miller, 32, of Hagerstown, Maryland, will spend the next 37 years in federal prison after being sentenced for the horrific sexual abuse of two children, ages 4 and 5. U.S. District Court Judge Brendan A. Hurson handed down the sentence today, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, bringing a measure of justice to a case that has shaken the local community.
Miller pled guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, and also admitted to committing a felony crime involving a minor while already a registered sex offender – a particularly egregious detail in this case. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, announced the sentencing alongside representatives from the FBI, Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Hagerstown Police Department.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior. Miller, previously convicted in Pennsylvania involving an 8-year-old child, failed to re-register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and subsequent move to Hagerstown in August 2022. This lapse in compliance allowed him to gain access to the young victims, whom he then subjected to months of abuse. Authorities discovered Miller had also captured images of the minors, storing them in a password-protected folder on his cell phone – digital evidence that proved crucial to the case.
The case broke open when one of the children bravely disclosed the abuse to his mother. Law enforcement swiftly responded, obtaining a search warrant for Miller’s phone. The hidden images, along with other incriminating evidence, confirmed the horrific reality of the situation and led to Miller’s arrest and subsequent charges. The speed and thoroughness of the investigation were praised by officials involved.
This prosecution was conducted under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The project, led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, focuses on bringing together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators and rescue victims. Information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at justice.gov/psc.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the collaborative efforts of the FBI, Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Hagerstown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn, who successfully prosecuted the federal case, also received special recognition. This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and community outreach programs, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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