Man accused of killing an off-duty deputy has now been indicted

A man accused of recently striking and killing an off-duty Jefferson County Sheriff's Department deputy has now been indicted on a federal charge. Meanwhile, new information has revealed that the suspect admitted to drinking nearly three gallons of beer and smoking marijuana prior to the deadly incident. Michael David Miller, 38, of Kountze, has been under indictment on a state charge of Intoxication Manslaughter by the Jefferson County Grand Jury for the July 9th crash that killed Deputy James Lee. Troopers said that Miller drove off a roadway and through a ditch which caused his SUV to land on top of Lee as he was on a riding mower in his front yard on Burrell-Wingate Road. Now, the Federal Grand Jury in Beaumont has indicted Miller for a federal Firearms Violation due to Miller already being a convicted felon on a domestic violence charge, and officers finding a gun in his SUV. The Texas Department of Public Safety says that following the crash, Miller allegedly told paramedics that he drank a 3o-pack of beer and smoked marijuana prior to the incident. If Miller is convicted on the federal Firearms Violation charge, he could face up to 15 years in federal prison. If convicted on the state Intoxication Manslaughter charge, he could face 2-20 years in state prison.