Indy Republicans vexed that Miller remains on council after arrest

Indianapolis City-County Councilman Jeff Miller, who was charged with three counts of child molesting Friday, is drawing frustration from his fellow council Republicans by not resigning from his seat.

Marion County GOP chairman Jim Merritt said Tuesday in a written statement that Miller indicated he would resign from the council on Friday, but he had yet to do so by Tuesday afternoon.

"Jeff Miller directly informed me on Friday that he intended to resign from his position on the Indianapolis City-County Council and I expect him to do the right thing and resign immediately,” Merritt said in the statement. "Jeff Miller has been investigated and charged with deplorable acts that should immediately disqualify anyone from public office."

The Republican caucus of the council also released a statement urging him to resign, and Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer did so as well.

“We join Chairman Jim Merritt in calling for Jeff Miller’s resignation,” Hupfer said in a written statement. "The acts he has been charged with committing are beneath anyone, let alone an elected official. Jeff Miller should fulfill the commitment he made to Chairman Merritt and resign his position so that the citizens of his district can be represented by someone they can trust."

Attorney Jennifer Lukemeyer, who represents Miller, told IBJ that “we still have no comment” on the situation.

Miller, who was elected to the council in 2011, was charged with child molesting after two 10-year-old girls told police he inappropriately touched and massaged them at his home in Fletcher Place. The girls visited the Miller home to play with his 10-year-old son.

Miller, 50, was booked into Marion County's Arrestee Processing Center on Friday afternoon and released the same day on bond.

The charges say Miller performed or submitted to fondling with two children between Sept. 1 and Oct. 20. The charges are Level 4 felonies, which carry sentences between two and 12 years.