Sheriff’s deputy charged with lending AR-15 to teen in Gilroy

San Benito deputy charged with lending AR-15 rifle to teen

Deputy Ryan Miller of the San Benito County sheriff's office has been charged by Santa Clara prosecutors with lending his personal AR-15 rifle to a 17-year-old boy. Miller's attorney says the case is not as "nefarious" as it may seem.

GILROY, Calif. - A San Benito County sheriff's deputy has been charged with lending an AR-15 rifle to a 17-year-old boy.

An anonymous tip

What we know:

San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor said in a video published to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon that an anonymous source informed authorities that Deputy Ryan Miller, 31, allegedly lent a rifle to the high school student during a "private dinner" in Gilroy.

Miller surrendered himself to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, posted $50,000 bail and is now out of custody.

According to Miller's attorney and court documents obtained by KTVU, the dinner was in fact a birthday party held at a home in Gilroy that Miller shared with his godparents. The documents further indicated that the boy was in a relationship with the daughter of Miller's godparents.

Gilroy police said in court documents Miller lent the teenager his rifle affixed with an optic and sling as well as a box of more than 100 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition and two 30-round magazines.

The exchange:

Authorities alleged that Miller showed the boy his rifle and told him he was welcome to take it and learn how to shoot. However, the boy allegedly told Miller that he had no prior firearms training.

Authorities said that, upon hearing of the exchange between Miller and the boy, the teen's father became upset and contacted a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent, who was a family friend.

Taylor said that the retired agent took the weapon "at the family’s request" and surrendered it to the sheriff’s department.

The teen's father also told authorities that his son considers Miller a friend, and added his son was left "emotionally frail and distraught" by the exchange.

"He described the act of providing the firearm to an untrained person who had never discharged a weapon as beyond comprehension," Gilroy police wrote in court documents. "[The boy's father] stated that he could not return the firearm to the same person who gave it to a minor because that would a repeat of poor judgment."

The sheriff added that Miller – who has four years of experience with the San Benito County Sheriff's Office – was immediately placed on administrative leave, and the department launched an investigation into the incident.

"As our internal affairs investigation progressed, it became clear to me that a felony had been committed," Taylor said. "I personally contacted interim Gilroy Police Chief Scot Smithee to report these violations as the incident occurred within their jurisdiction."

Gilroy authorities investigate

Dig deeper:

The Gilroy Police Department then launched its own independent investigation into the sheriff's department’s internal process regarding the allegations against Miller.

Following the investigation, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office obtained an arrest warrant for Miller for felony transport of an assault weapon and a misdemeanor count of providing a firearm other than a handgun to a teenager.

Miller's attorney, Carlos Vega, said his client is a respected law enforcement professional who "understands the gravity of the situation," adding that Miller allegedly went over safety procedures in handling the rifle and was "drawn in" by the teen's alleged enthusiasm for guns.

What they're saying:

"The San Benito County Sheriff's Office remains committed to the highest standards of conduct," Taylor said. "We hold our deputies to the same laws they are sworn to uphold. When those standards are not met, we will take the necessary steps to protect our and the integrity of this badge."

Miller is scheduled to be arraigned in July.

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan