Two convicted murderers re-sentenced in Columbia County District Court

J.D. BAILEY

Banner-News

Due to recent state and federal supreme court decisions, all individuals issued a prison sentence of life without parole as minors will now be re-sentenced. On Thursday, two such convicted criminals were present in Columbia County District Court.

Matthew R. Elliott, 34, of Magnolia was issued a new prison sentence by Judge David Talley of life with parole eligibility after 30 years served. Elliott was previously sentenced to life without parole in 2000 after a local jury convicted him of capital murder in the killing of 15-year-old Brittni Pater.

Talley cited multiple recent high court decisions as the basis for his sentencing. In the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court case Miller v. Alabama, the court ruled in a 5-4 decision “that mandatory life without parole for those under age of 18 at the time of their crime violates the 8th Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments.” Another federal supreme court case in 2016, Montgomery v. Louisiana, stated that the new sentencing laws must be applied retroactively, therefore making Elliott eligible for a new sentence.

In following with the recent federal rulings, the Arkansas State Legislature passed a Senate bill earlier this year stating that those convicted of capital murder as juveniles should be given a mandatory sentence of 30 years in the department of corrections with a possibility of parole after that time. In making his judgment Thursday, Talley cited the recently passed decisions and laws as part of his sentencing. With the retroactive judgment in effect, Elliott will be eligible for parole on Feb. 5, 2030, as he has already served 6,437 days (17.63 years) in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. This ruling does not mean he will be automatically released from prison on that date. The law only states he will then be eligible for parole.

Steven Wade Miller, 39, was also present Thursday in local district court. The Union County native was convicted of capital murder as a minor – just as Elliott – in December 1994 after he was found guilty of killing 21-year-old Alpha Leona Cameron at a Subway restaurant in El Dorado. Miller was sentenced to life without parole. A Columbia County jury convicted Miller after a change of venue from Union County.

Citing the same sentencing laws and supreme court decisions as he did in the Elliott case, Talley sentenced Miller to life in prison with parole eligibility after 30 years served in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. According to court officials, Miller has already served 8,598 days (23.56 years) in prison.

After Talley handed down the sentence, Miller’s attorney, former prosecutor Jamie Pratt, officially questioned the constitutionality of the 2017 Arkansas Legislature law on which the judge based his sentencing. Pratt said he would like to give a statement regarding the matter and will send the Arkansas Attorney General, Leslie Rutledge, another letter questioning the legality of the statute. Pratt also stated he would appeal Talley’s decision to a higher state court. Talley responded by saying he believed his ruling to be in accordance with the courts, laws, and the Constitution.

With Miller appealing the District Court’s sentencing, further hearings on the matter will take place outside of Columbia County.

Upcoming Events