
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 6, 1995                   TAG: 9501060123
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: SARAH HUNTLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RAPIST TOLD TO AVOID YOUNG GIRLS

A 19-year-old Salem man convicted of statutory rape may have to give up his jobs at Burger King and McDonald's because a Circuit Court judge said the fast-food restaurants are "a haven for young girls."

Sean Dennis Miller, who was convicted in September of engaging in sexual activity with three 14-year-old girls in Salem and Roanoke County, appeared in court Thursday to ask that his sentence be reconsidered.

Miller was sentenced to four years in prison after he pleaded no contest to three charges of statutory rape, which prosecutors said stemmed from separate incidents on the Glenvar High School playing field and in the parking lot of a Salem restaurant in March.

As a result of Thursday's hearing, Miller will serve no time in prison. However, he was ordered to participate in a youth boot-camp program, which prosecutors said was equivalent to six months in jail. He also was given three years' probation.

Judge G.O. Clemens put several restrictions on Miller's probationary period, including that Miller not be employed in a place where he would come into contact with girls younger than 17, unless the employer is prepared to accept potential liability.

Miller also must participate in substance-abuse counseling, comply with an evening curfew, avoid all social contact with girls younger than 17, stay away from schools and organizations that have female members younger than 17, and have any plans to complete high school approved by the court.

"I was going to ban him from all shopping malls, too, but I'll back away from that," Clemens said.

The strict probation stipulations are necessary to send a message that statutory rape is a serious offense, Clemens said.

Salem Commonwealth's Attorney Fred King said it is not unusual for judges to put stipulations on probation, but he acknowledged that he has not encountered an employment restriction such as this one.

"I wouldn't call the stipulations unusual," said Mark Claytor, Roanoke County assistant commonwealth's attorney. "I would call them creative and appropriate."

Memo: ***CORRECTION***

by CNB