UCLA’s Miller Sentenced to Diversion Program

UCLA linebacker Jamir Miller, charged with two misdemeanor weapons violations, was placed in diversion for one year by South Bay Municipal Court Judge Thomas P. Allen Jr. in Torrance on Monday.

Torrance City Prosecutor Jesse Rodriguez said he recommended diversion, which enables a defendant to have the charges dismissed if he stays out of trouble for the period specified. “He has a clean record and we were convinced that this was an aberration,” Rodriguez said.

Miller, 19, and his uncle, New York Jet defensive lineman Mark Gunn, 24, were arrested on Jan. 17 after a Torrance police officer, during a traffic stop for an equipment violation, allegedly found two handguns in the car Miller was driving. Miller and Gunn, a passenger, were charged with possession of a concealed firearm and carrying a loaded firearm in public.

Gunn was given a 90-day suspended jail term and a year’s probation after pleading no contest to possession of a concealed firearm last month.

Miller, a 6-foot-4, 233-pound sophomore who has led UCLA in quarterback sacks the last two seasons, had been suspended from UCLA athletic activities pending a resolution of his case. UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis was unavailable to comment on whether Miller will be reinstated for spring practice, which begins today.

In an unrelated case, the pretrial hearing of UCLA nose guard Bruce Walker on two misdemeanor weapons violations was continued from Monday until today in the Beverly Hills Municipal Court.

Walker and teammate Kevin Williams were arrested Jan. 21 after Beverly Hills police allegedly found a loaded handgun in the vehicle that Williams was driving during a routine traffic stop. They were charged with possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

Williams pleaded no contest on Feb. 9, was sentenced to two years unsupervised probation and fined $405.