Penticton city councillor James Miller is set to appear in court on sex crime charges.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ James Miller

Penticton city councillor James Miller has committed to finishing his term on council despite being charged for decades-old sex crimes.

“I, like the other members of Penticton city council, intend to fulfill the balance of my term,” Miller said in a letter to the city on Friday, Jan. 3.

Miller, 59, is currently facing numerous charges for sex crimes related to his time as a youth basketball coach in Ontario in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His next court appearance is set for tomorrow, Jan. 7. He's currently on paid leave from city council.

The city is set to hold a byelection in the early spring to replace former city councillor Amelia Boultbee who was elected to the B.C. legislature in the fall election.

The city’s communications director Shane Mills said in an emailed statement Monday all the remaining city councillors have said they plan to fulfill their terms.

With Boultbee out, and Miller on paid leave, city council is down to five members.

When contacted by iNFOnews.ca Miller said he had no comment and sent a copy of the letter he sent to city hall last week. Miller's lawyer didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Miller was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual interference and two counts of sexual assault on a person under 16 following a complaint made to Sarnia, Ont. police back in August.

READ MORE: Penticton city councillor facing new charges for decades-old sex crimes

Sarnia Police Service identified additional victims and brought forward more charges in November.

He's currently charged with seven counts of sexual interference, three counts of invitation to sexual touching and one count of sexual assault, according to Sarnia police.

Miller has been on paid leave from Penticton city council since his arrest in August, and a petition asking him to resign has reached 888 signatures.

“With a byelection in the planning for the early spring to replace Amelia Boutlbee, would it not be logical for James Miller to voluntarily resign and allow someone else to fill the important space without spending any more taxpayer dollars than absolutely necessary?” Ajeet Brar said in the petition.

According to the 2023 statement of financial information from the city, Miller makes $27,493 a year, and he has been on leave for roughly six months.

Miller is the managing editor of the Kelowna Courier and Penticton Herald newspapers.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2025