The Montana Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Jason Allen Miller for the attempted homicide of Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Lewis Johnson, rejecting a series of challenges to his 2025 trial.
Miller was convicted in June 2025 after prosecutors said he ran over Johnson in February 2023, seriously injuring the trooper. He was found guilty of attempted deliberate homicide, criminal endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal possession of dangerous drugs and aggravated kidnapping.
On appeal, Miller argued that the trial court improperly allowed law-enforcement officers to attend proceedings in uniform, that he received ineffective assistance from his attorney and that the court should not have admitted a photograph of the crime scene.
The Supreme Court rejected those arguments, agreeing with the Montana Attorney General’s Office that Miller received a fair trial. His conviction and sentence will remain in place.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen praised the ruling and the work of state prosecutors and appellate attorneys, saying he hoped the decision would bring some measure of peace to Johnson and his family.
Miller was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was also ordered to pay more than $75,000 in restitution to the Johnson family and more than $1.2 million to the state for Johnson’s care, treatment and costs associated with the case.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant Attorney General Thorin Geist and former Assistant Attorney General Selene Koepke. Assistant Attorney General Katie Schulz represented the state on appeal.
