Miller pleads guilty

HELENA – Former Montana State men’s basketball player Branden Miller pleaded guilty Friday for his role in the shooting death of a cocaine dealer in a case that stunned the community and led the school to re-evaluate its athletics recruiting policies.

The 23-year-old Miller pleaded guilty in District Court in Bozeman to murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the June 2006 death of Jason Wright, whose body was found in an MSU agricultural field.

“Branden wanted to take responsibility for his involvement in the death of Jason Wright, but the fact remains that he did not shoot Jason Wright,” said Miller’s attorney, public defender Peter Ohman.

He said his client apologized to Wright’s family and “hopes that they will at some time in the future perhaps be able to forgive him.”

Miller also pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon in a pistol-whipping at a downtown Bozeman bar two weeks before Wright was killed.

A kidnapping charge in the Wright case was dismissed along with other charges in the bar fight.

District Judge Mike Salvagni scheduled Miller’s sentencing for May 5.

Under the plea agreement, prosecutors are recommending consecutive sentences totaling 130 years in prison, including 100 years for the murder. Miller’s defense will also be allowed to make a sentencing recommendation and will ask for an opportunity for parole, Ohman said.

If Salvagni agrees to the state’s sentencing recommendation, Miller would be eligible for parole in 31 years, Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert said.

Also charged in the Wright case is John Lebrum, a former MSU redshirt football player. His trial is scheduled for April.

Investigators have said Miller bought two .40-caliber handguns from a Bozeman pawn shop two weeks before Wright was shot.