Miller and Church Both in Court on Drug Cases; Drugs Involved Allegedly Led to Death

Two men facing drug charges where the drugs involved could have led to the death of a local woman were in court Monday.

22-year-old Jay C. Miller of Altamont is charged with possession of a controlled substance while 23-year-old Albert D. Church of Effingham is charged with delivery of a controlled substance under an accountability theory.

Prosecutors say Church told police he notified 29-year-old Jessica James of Effingham of someone who could supply her with heroin, and that's why he was arrested.  Phone records indicated several calls between Church and Miller and when Miller was arrested on an unrelated charge, he was found to be in possession of heroin and was arrested for that offense.

Both men were indicted on the same counts by an Effingham County Grand Jury last week.

Church's case has been delayed due to the continued illness of Conflicts Public Defender Richard Runde.  When Judge Marc Kelly asked Church during a Monday court appearance whether he wanted a different attorney, Church said he'd wait for Runde.  Kelly set another hearing in Church's case for March 3.

As for Miller, Public Defender Scott Schmidt entered a not guilty plea during a brief hearing Monday morning.  The case was set for the April 14th trial calendar, with a pre-trial hearing set for April 1 at 10:30am.

Both Church and Miller remain in custody in Effingham County Jail.