Son Who Stole $13,000 Spared Jail

A Rhode Island man who stole more than $13,000 from his 77-year-old West Hartford mother was reproached Monday by a Hartford Superior Court judge for a “low-ball move” after reaching a plea agreement that spared prison.

Matthew J. Miller, 48, of Providence, pleaded guilty in court to two counts of credit card theft. He had faced more than 40 charges, including two felonies.

Miller avoided prison because his mother, who spoke briefly in court, decided not to pursue charges, Judge John M. Newson said.

“The only reason you’re not going to jail is because your mother stood up,” Newson said.

May 31 after acknowledging a 4½-month-old warrant for his arrest, said. Miller, who has three convictions in Connecticut for narcotics, mistakenly had surrendered to Hartford police.

Newson suspended a nine-month jail sentence and ordered an 18-month conditional discharge. Newson rejected an effort by Miller’s public defender, Michael S. Wagner, to suspend the charges.

“It doesn’t get much lower than stealing from your mother, from your family,” Newson said.

Police said Miller used his mother’s credit card and PIN without permission to withdraw $13,289.45 from a South Main Street branch of TD Bank over a three-month period in 2010. He made 21 ATM withdrawals from his mother's checking account in October, 17 in November and four in September, police said.

Miller’s mother contacted police Nov. 21. She told police that her son has a substance abuse problem.

Wagner said Miller is taking part in a substance abuse program under the Salvation Army in Rhode Island.

Miller’s convictions date to 2003. He served part of a one-year jail sentence for narcotics in 2008 that stemmed from an arrest in Wethersfield, according to court records.