In OCCA case No. F-2011-877, Dennis Lynn Miller appealed his conviction for multiple offenses, including child sexual abuse, first-degree rape, forcible oral sodomy, attempted first-degree rape, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, and intimidation of a witness. In an unpublished decision, the court decided to affirm his convictions for counts one through six and eight, while reversing and remanding count seven for dismissal. One judge dissented. Miller was convicted after a jury trial in Muskogee County, where he faced serious accusations of abusing his adoptive daughter, L.M. The abuse began when L.M. was around thirteen years old, involving both physical violence and sexual acts that lasted for several years. Miller's conduct included threats of violence to control L.M. during these acts, which left her frightened and unwilling to report the abuse. L.M. eventually confided in a friend, and authorities were contacted, leading to a police investigation that confirmed multiple instances of abuse. Although Miller challenged the admissibility of certain evidence related to his past behavior and the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions, the court determined that the substantial evidence supported the jury's decisions. The court acknowledged that some evidence may not have been properly objected to during trial, but found that the lack of objections by defense counsel did not significantly harm Miller's case, as the victim's testimony was clear and credible. The court ultimately ruled that Miller's conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon should be reversed as the evidence did not support that a dresser was used in a manner that constituted a dangerous weapon. In summary, the court upheld most of Miller's convictions while dismissing one, citing the overwhelming evidence against him and the credibility of the victim's testimony.
