A former Bamberg- Ehrhardt High School band director will serve time in the South Carolina State Department of Corrections for having sex with a 14-year old student. According to an article by Richard Walker of the Times and Democrat Newspaper published on September 21st, a circuit court judge in Orangeburg on Monday, September, 20, sentenced 35- year-old Michael Miller of Orangeburg to 10 years in prison, suspended to five years.

The charge was reduced so a minor would not have to testify. The article also stated that Miller must also register as a sex offender.

It was reported in The Advertizer-Herald, according to a Bamberg Police Department incident report filed on January 14, 2010,Miller committed third degree criminal sexual conduct and simple assault on a minor. According to the report, the alleged incident occurred at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School on December 1, 2009. The report alleged that Miller was having some type of improper relationship with a 14-year old female student who was a member of the band.

Miller turned himself in February 4 to the Bamberg County Detention Center and was charged with two counts each of lewd act on a minor under 16 and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Bamberg. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and battery.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Office investigators charged Miller with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Orangeburg County. On February 8, Miller was taken before an Orangeburg County Magistrate and bond was set at $50,000.