Jarrod Miller Found Guilty of 1st Degree Murder, Burglary

A Sonoma County jury on Wednesday convicted Jarrod Miller of first degree murder  in the near Healdsburg last March.

The jury also convicted Miller, 30, of intentionally discharging a firearm, first-degree residential burglary with the intent to commit murder, and personal use of a gun.

Miller faces a potential sentence of 50 years to life plus 16 years in prison for the murder of Sentencing is set for April 27.

The jury began deliberations on Monday, according to the Press Democrat, and returned the verdict late today.

The prosecution, led by and Deputy District Attorney Scott Jamar, sought the first degree murder charge for what Ravitch in opening statements when the trial started on Feb. 10 called

After the verdict was read, Ravitch said the jury "did an excellent job."

"We're pleased with the verdict. Justice was served," she said.

Ravitch told the jury in her closing argument that anger and resentment fueled Miller's plan to kill 29-year-old Timothy Neuer.

Neuer considered Miller a "mooch" and too dependent on him and Amanda Miller, Ravitch said.       

Miller lived with Neuer and his sister at their Healdsburg home where the murder occurred on March 8 before he moved to a Cloverdale home that Neuer and Amanda Miller also were renting, according to trial testimony.

"Mandy is all this man had left. His family was not there and she was his lifeline. Tim wanted him out and Mandy said give him notice. He transitioned to the Cloverdale house, but he's on his way out," Ravitch said in her closing arguments Monday.

Miller rented a car and drove to Nevada to buy a semi-automatic handgun, according to trial testimony.

"What we have here is a man who's thinking things through," Ravitch said, arguing for a first-degree murder conviction.

Neuer and Jarrod Miller had a confrontation at the Cloverdale house shortly before the murder. Miller then drove to the Healdsburg house that night to talk to Neuer and sat on a couch next to his sister while Neuer was having his head shaved in the bathroom, according to trial testimony.

Amanda Miller testified her brother shot Neuer three times when Neuer came out of the bathroom, then told her, 'It's going to be OK now Mandy, it's going to be all right.'

Miller was soon arrested while driving on Old Redwood Highway. A California Highway Patrol officer found the murder weapon in a vineyard 500 yards from where Miller was stopped.  

The defense, led by attorney Joe Bisbiglia, sought a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter due to Miller's mental state and an what motivated the events of March 8, 2011.

mental illness and bought a firearm to defend himself because he was afraid of Neuer and because Neuer and Amanda Miller were growing marijuana.

Bisbiglia said Neuer "stormed out of the bathroom" and was "towering over" Miller when he said 'get the f--- out of my house' just before the shooting. Miller was in fear of his life and "just snapped," Bisbiglia said.

Bisbiglia asked the jury to reject Ravitch's first-degree murder argument and consider voluntary manslaughter.

Bisbiglia also argued against the residential burglary charge. He said Miller's sister opened the door of the Healdsburg house when she saw her brother outside that night.

Bisbiglia said his client just wanted to talk to Neuer and had no intention to draw Neuer out of the bathroom.

Witnesses for the prosecution in the included Miller's sister and

Witnesses for the defense included Miller's mother, Barbi Evans, according to the Press Democrat.

This was Ravitch's first case that she took to trial since being elected Sonoma County District Attorney in November 2010.

Ravitch said the case was a challenge because it involved emotional issues of domestic violence and mental illness.

She said trying the case with Jamar was beneficial to her office staff, some of whom attended parts of the trial to watch and share the experience.

Ravitch recently has been teaming seasoned and less experienced prosecutors in the courtrooms.

--Bay City News Service assisted with this report.