VERY BAD NEWS! Brandon Miller accused of murder

Post by **SonomaCat** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:13 pm

Prior to killing somebody, it was reasonable, on the surface, to come to his defense. I assume if anybody knew that he had it in him to (allegedly) kill someone, they would not have defended him.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:22 pm

GOKATS wrote:Apparently it is drug related and involves several athletes. Not looking good.

BREAKING NEWS: Former athletes arrested in murder probe

By TED SULLIVAN of the Chronicle Staff

Several current and former Montana State University athletes have been linked to an apparent drug-related killing of suspected cocaine dealer Jason Wright.

Former MSU basketball player Branden Miller, 22, and former MSU football player, John Lebrum, 21, were charged Thursday with deliberate homicide for their roles in the shooting death of Wright on June 23.

Both men are accused of kidnapping Wright before he was killed and later destroying evidence of the murder and disposing of Wright's black Chevrolet Tahoe in Belgrade, according to court records.

Miller is being held in Gallatin County's jail on $1 million bail. Lebrum has not had his initial appearance in court.

What does he mean by "several current and former". That implies that there are more involved. This story is terrible, and sounds like it may get worse.
I am NOT happy.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:30 pm

HelenaCat95 wrote:
GOKATS wrote:Apparently it is drug related and involves several athletes. Not looking good.

BREAKING NEWS: Former athletes arrested in murder probe

By TED SULLIVAN of the Chronicle Staff

Several current and former Montana State University athletes have been linked to an apparent drug-related killing of suspected cocaine dealer Jason Wright.

Former MSU basketball player Branden Miller, 22, and former MSU football player, John Lebrum, 21, were charged Thursday with deliberate homicide for their roles in the shooting death of Wright on June 23.

Both men are accused of kidnapping Wright before he was killed and later destroying evidence of the murder and disposing of Wright's black Chevrolet Tahoe in Belgrade, according to court records.

Miller is being held in Gallatin County's jail on $1 million bail. Lebrum has not had his initial appearance in court.
What does he mean by "several current and former". That implies that there are more involved. This story is terrible, and sounds like it may get worse.
I am NOT happy.

I was just going off what the Chronicle reported, but Moose radio just announced that MSU athletics would be releasing a statement soon (could be tomorrow though).

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:38 pm

On the local CBS news, the county attorney just stated that additional arrests may be made, but he offered no details.

Pres. Gamble said he was extremely disappointed by the news and MSU was cooperating with the investigation.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:43 pm

I cannot express how stunned I am at this. I hope the "current" athletes that were mentioned are found to not have any part of this and we can all move on. Drugs are just a terrible situation to get involved in. It seems that every drug-related situation turns out to yield a frightening outcome. This is a shame and atragedy that we all need to overcome together with MSU.

PapaG · Post by **PapaG** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:44 pm

I feel like I just got punched in the stomach.

"Several current" players?

This is the type of thing that destroys a university's image.

If Wright really was a coke dealer, deaths like these are a part of the job. It is sad, but a job hazard.

But I really, REALLY hope this ends at Miller and Lebrum. This could mushroom nationally depending on how deeply the "current" players are involved.

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:00 pm

Yikes. It's sad to see something like this happen. I'm hoping that it is only these two people and no one else, but this is a major black eye for MSU athletics, MSU, and the Bozeman community. There are so many good things that happen here it's sad to see something like this happen here and I hope this situation doesn't get worse, but I know it will.

And I want to say thanks to all of the athletes who represent MSU well and do not involve themselves in these kinds of things.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:04 pm

Belgrade News seems to have the scoop on this.

TOP STORIES
2006-06-29
BREAKING NEWS: Second murder suspect arrested

By Jeremy Ewan, staff writer

Police have arrested a second man for the shooting death of Jason Cody Wright in Bozeman last week.

John Albert Lebrum, 22, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with deliberate homicide. Branden Levar Miller, also 22, was arrested earlier in the morning on the same charge.

Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert said aggravating circumstances in the crime could mean the death penalty for both men, if they are convicted.

Lambert said Thursday he has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

"That is an extremely serious decision," he said. "Its one of the hardest decisions that any prosecutor has to make. I'm certainly nowhere near making it at this point."

A warrant was issued for Lebrum's arrest Thursday morning and he was picked up by police in Bozeman soon after.

Lebrum had not appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court as of Thursday, and was being held in the Gallatin County jail without bond.

Judge Scott Wyckman set Miller's bail at $1 million at an arraignment hearing Thursday morning.

According to an affidavit filed by prosecutors in the case, Miller told police that Lebrum hit Wright in the head outside of Perkins restaurant in Bozeman and then loaded him into the back of Wright's Chevy Tahoe.

Miller told police that he drove east on Main Street toward his residence and that Lebrum drove west away from Bozeman on Huffine Lane, the affidavit stated.

Wright's body was found in an MSU-owned wheat field along Huffine Lane west of Bozeman at around 1:30 p.m. Friday.

According to the affidavit, Miller told police Lebrum called him on Monday, and asked him to meet Lebrum at the Hilton Garden Inn, where they wiped down Wright's Tahoe with bleach, after which they abandoned the vehicle in Belgrade.

At the time of his arrest, Lebrum was on probation for a January conviction in Gallatin County District Court for felony criminal endangerment.

According to court records in that case, Lebrum punched a fellow basketball player during a game at the Montana State University Health and Physical Education Complex. The punch left the victim with a "seriously broken jaw" that required reconstructive surgery and extensive dental work.

Lebrum was originally charged with aggravated assault, but the charge was pleaded down to criminal endangerment. Lebrum was given a six-year deferred prison sentence and ordered to pay $34,941.06 in restitution.

"He was on probation with the Department of Corrections," Lambert said. "I would expect the Department of Corrections to ask for a petition to revoke that deferred imposition of sentence," which means Lebrum could be sent to prison to serve the six-year sentence.

Go Scats Go · Post by **Go Scats Go** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:30 pm

Wow- I hope this gets better before it gets worse. Athough I like to give you cats a lot of crap IMO this one is off limits.

Hope it all goes well.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:35 pm

Go Scats Go wrote:Wow- I hope this gets better before it gets worse. Athough I like to give you cats a lot of crap IMO this one is off limits.

Hope it all goes well.

Thanks.

Cat Grad · Post by **Cat Grad** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 6:37 pm

Go Scats Go wrote:Wow- I hope this gets better before it gets worse. Athough I like to give you cats a lot of crap IMO this one is off limits.

Hope it all goes well.

Thank you. Pretty classy on your part.

bozbobcat · Post by **bozbobcat** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:25 pm

Go Scats Go wrote:Wow- I hope this gets better before it gets worse. Athough I like to give you cats a lot of crap IMO this one is off limits.

Hope it all goes well.

Thanks, Scats. I think we all share the thoughts that even though these guys were Bobcats, they are not any longer and should not even be mentioned as such. There's a certain amount of pride that should be associated with the Bobcat name, and these two men, if you can even call them that, do not represent this name at all.

Cat in SoDak · Post by **Cat in SoDak** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:32 pm

Latest from the Chronicle. I believe everyone is doing a nice job keeping things in perspective. A school's athletic department is trivial compared to the loss of a young man's life. However, I can't stop thinking that the names in Mr. Wright's "pays and owes" sheets could have the biggest effect on MSU. It's bad enough so many former athletes were involved. If those sheets list current Bobcats, it could be devastating.

Several current and former Montana State University athletes have been linked to an apparent drug-related killing of suspected cocaine dealer Jason Cody Wright.

Former MSU basketball player Branden Miller, 22, and former MSU football player, John Lebrum, 22, were charged Thursday with deliberate homicide for their roles in the June 23 shooting death of Wright, who was found dead in a field off Huffine Lane west of Bozeman.

Both men are accused of kidnapping Wright, 26, before he was killed and later destroying evidence of the homicide and disposing of Wright's black Chevrolet Tahoe in Belgrade.

Miller is being held in Gallatin County's jail on $1 million bail. Lebrum has not had his initial appearance in court.

Miller told investigators that Lebrum, known as "Freak," called him early that Friday morning and wanted a ride to Perkins Restaurant on Bozeman's West Main Street, where Wright was dining.

According to court records, investigators say the details of the crime are as follows:

Miller and Lebrum parked near Perkins and waited for Wright to come outside. When Wright came out of the restaurant, Lebrum ran toward Wright and hit him on the head.

After Wright fell down, Lebrum loaded him into the back seat of Wright's black Chevrolet Tahoe. Lebrum then drove the Tahoe west on Huffine Lane.

Miller told investigators he drove away in his own car in the other direction, eventually going to an apartment he shares with former MSU basketball player Ja' Ron Jefferson.

At about 3 a.m. a witness was driving on Huffine Lane west of Bozeman and turned onto Ferguson Avenue.

The witness saw a maroon, GMC Envoy parked in the middle of the southbound lane on Ferguson between the entrance to Casey's Corner and Fallon Avenue.

As the witness approached the Envoy, he or she saw Wright running away from the vehicle. Wright appeared to be scared and in a hurry.

While driving by the Envoy, Wright attempted to flag down the witness' vehicle. Wright even lunged at the vehicle in an attempt to stop it. The witness kept driving.

The Envoy belongs to former MSU basketball player Aaron Rich. Tire tracks from Rich's Envoy later were matched to tire tracks near Wright's body.

Thirty minutes later, a man who lives on Love Lane told investigators he heard five gunshots near his home. He then heard a vehicle speed away, its tires spinning.

About 10 hours later, Wrights body was found in a field off Huffine Lane west of Bozeman. Wright had been shot and beaten to death. Investigators found several .40-caliber shell casings near his body.

Wright a drug dealer

On Sunday, investigators learned more details about Wright, a former American Legion baseball player and coach in Livingston and Bozeman.

He had been a cocaine dealer, police say.

They searched his apartment on the 500 block of Michael Grove Avenue and found "pays and owes" sheets related to drug dealing. A handgun Wright owned was missing.

On Monday, Lebrum called Miller. He asked Miller to get a bottle of bleach and meet him. The two of them met, then went to the Hilton Garden Inn where Wright's Tahoe was parked.

The back window of the Tahoe was broken and the interior was covered in blood. Miller and Lebrum then wiped down the car with bleach. Miller took Wright's laptop computer. The two men then abandoned the car near the intersection of Dakota Street and Rosebud Avenue in Belgrade.

On Tuesday, Wright's Tahoe was found outside of a business in Belgrade. Dried blood was found on the exterior and interior of the vehicle. A small bag of cocaine and an empty can of bleach was found near the Tahoe.

Also on Tuesday, investigators received a tip that Wright's computer had been found in a Dumpster on MSU's campus. When detectives went to the Dumpster, they also found documents with Wright's name on it.

In the trash bag with Wright's property was a birthday card and receipt belonging to Miller, who later admitted to having Wright's belongings.

Another witness, former MSU basketball player and assistant coach James Clark, told investigators Miller had several handguns and Wright's identification card. Clark was related to Wright through marriage before Wright divorced.

The handguns later were found in a locker at MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

The locker containing the guns was labeled "1 Wilson." MSU has a basketball player currently on the roster named Jacques Wilson, who wears jersey No. 1.

One of the handguns found in the MSU locker was the same caliber as the shell casings found near Wright's body, Sheriff Jim Cashell said Thursday during a press conference.

Miller had problems and criminal history

Miller, a former point guard who left the team in December 2005 when he became academically ineligible, was charged in April with partner assault and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors.

A Milwaukee native, Miller told the judge at that time he had learned his girlfriend had cheated on him. He then went to her apartment, yelled at his girlfriend and broke some of her belongings.

As a junior, Miller started all 28 games for MSU during the 2004-2005 season, when the team finished second in the Big Sky Conference. He was the team's second-leading scorer.

As a senior, Miller had family issues and confrontations with former head coach Mick Durham about his playing time and his number of shots per game. At that time, he was coming off the bench.

He left MSU's basketball team in late December when poor grades made him academically ineligible to remain on the team. He was the team's third-leading scorer at 10.8 points a game.

Lebrum no stranger to authorities

Lebrum, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., played defensive back for MSU's football team in 2003. He appeared in nine games during his freshman season, according to the NCAA's Web site.

He left the team that year for discipilnary reasons and never finished the season.

In October 2005, he was charged with breaking another man's jaw in a fight during a pickup basketball game.

He eventually was convicted of criminal endangerment, a felony.

LeBrum was playing hoops at the Health & PE Center on MSU's campus when a defender, Brett Ruiz, blocked his shot, according to court records.

LeBrum reacted by punching Ruiz in the jaw, forcing him to have reconstructive surgery. Plates and screws were inserted into Ruiz's jaw to hold it together. Several of Ruiz's teeth were damaged and removed. His jaw had to be wired shut.

At one point, Lebrum worked at Rental Professionals.

Facing the death penalty

In the courtroom with about 20 people looking on Thursday, Miller, wearing orange jailhouse coveralls, spoke softly.

He appeared on video from the nearby jail. He told the judge he understood the charges against him. He said he had read his rights. And he didn't have any questions for the judge.

Gallatin County Attorney Marty Lambert asked the judge for $1 million bail, saying Miller helped "ambush" Wright, leading to his death. He also said Miller must remain in jail to protect witnesses with information on the homicide.

Miller's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Eric Brewer, told the judge he would contest bail when the case is moved into in District Court. He reminded the court that Miller is innocent until proven guilty.

Judge Scott Wyckman set bail at $1 million.

Hours after Miller appeared in court, authorities arrested Lebrum, who is expected to appear in court on Friday.

If convicted, Lebrum and Miller could be sentenced to death. They also face $50,000 fines.

They will enter pleas to the charges in District Court at a future date.

bobcatgrad2005 · Post by **bobcatgrad2005** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:02 pm

It gets worse... Aaron Rich!?

RyeCat · Post by **RyeCat** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:12 pm

What the hell is going on? This is just getting deeper and deeper.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:58 pm

It's already ugly, and quickly headed for flat ass pug ugly! If Rich is involved (and possibly Clark) this is a really bad situation.

To date, no current athletes are involved, and I hope it stays that way- gotta run- 10:00 news coming up.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:38 pm

Boy I sure hope Jaques Wilson is being framed or something in this. I really pray for the benefit of him and everyone that his locker was being used as against Wilson's knowledge.

spider · Post by **spider** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:43 pm

longhorn_22 wrote:Boy I sure hope Jaques Wilson is being framed or something in this. I really pray for the benefit of him and everyone that his locker was being used as against Wilson's knowledge.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:46 pm

spider wrote:
longhorn_22 wrote:Boy I sure hope Jaques Wilson is being framed or something in this. I really pray for the benefit of him and everyone that his locker was being used as against Wilson's knowledge.

The handguns later were found in a locker at MSU's Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

The locker containing the guns was labeled "1 Wilson." MSU has a basketball player currently on the roster named Jacques Wilson, who wears jersey No. 1.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:52 pm

On my commenting on this matter on the Gazette's site, I always find it funny how I get ripped for everything.
I was responding to a comment that was posted and the person said this:

"There is NO excuse to sign players that are not at the TOP of the academic ladder as well as the top of good character. I will not support a school in any way that allows this to continue."

I commented to this by saying that Miller didn't play because of his grades and I asked how you could punish a school for doing the right thing and not allowing him to play. A response to me was this:

"Don't kid yourself, MSU didn't play them (Miller) due to NCAA rules. This is a symptom of win at all costs. The grizz are not immune to it either....."

How in the hell can you say that about this? Like we signed Miller knowing full well of his intentions of these recent events? Hardly. Some people need to get a life.