BAMBERG, S.C. — The father of a 14-year-old Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School student broke down Friday during a bond hearing for the man accused of having sex with his child.

”It just goes to show you can’t trust anybody,” the man said. “She was a student, and I trusted this man.”

Michael Miller, 36, of 1472 Von Oshen Drive, Orangeburg, stood before Bamberg County Chief Magistrate Craig Threatt to face charges he had sex with a minor.

“These charges are felonies under the laws of the state of South Carolina,” Threatt said. “Do you understand what you have been charged with?”

“Yes, sir.”

In Bamberg, Miller is charged with two counts each of lewd act on a minor under 16 and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in connection with two alleged incidents, one in August and another in December.

“Having taken everything into consideration. ... I’m going to set bond in the amount of $20,000 surety,” Threatt said. A defense request for a 10 percent option was granted.

In addition, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office has also obtained a warrant against the former band instructor for allegedly having sex with the youth at his home.

At Friday’s hearing, a woman identifying herself as the 14-year-old’s sister asked that bond be denied on Miller, saying the former B-E band director was untrustworthy.

“And for that, I feel he is a threat to society,” the woman said. “I do not believe he should be given a bond. He used her as his personal sex toy.”

Bamberg Police Chief George Morris asked the court to consider that Miller once held the respect and trust of the area’s residents.

“It has disappointed our little community and our school,” Morris said. “We are disappointed that he got himself into a position like this.”

Meanwhile, defense attorney Jonathan Harvey told the court Miller had no prior criminal history. He also said his client was “severing his position with the school system.”

“He is an educator, his spouse is an educator. They are people of modest means,” Harvey said. “I would ask that your Honor put a reasonable bond” on his client.

Of the $20,000 bond with a 10 percent option, Harvey said, “It’s a serious matter and the judge made a well-reasoned decision.”

Miller and his wife, B-EHS Assistant Principal Denise Miller, were placed on paid administrative leave pending the result of the investigation, which police say was requested by the teen’s family.

Bamberg School District 1 Superintendent Phyllis Schwarting has said Denise Miller is also a victim in the case, and the district will take no disciplinary action against her. Morris said there will be no charges against her.

In Orangeburg County, investigators have charged Miller with another count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said his investigators were notified by Morris of a possible incident in Orangeburg County.

Williams said, “There’s lots of work still to do in the case. And my staff, along with the authorities of the Bamberg Police Department, are working jointly on behalf of the 14-year-old alleged victim.”

Miller was originally scheduled for a bond hearing in Bamberg on Thursday morning. Harvey, however, notified authorities that his client had taken an overdose of some medication, Morris said.

Miller is currently being held at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Detention Center, awaiting a bond hearing on the Orangeburg County charge.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516.

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