Patrick J. Miller, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Aberdeen, S.D., is accused of allowing his 30-year-old son, a registered sex offender, to participate in unlawful sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl.
The young woman started babysitting Dr. Miller's two children in the summer of 2014. That fall, Dr. Miller's son from a previous marriage — named Lance — was released from federal prison after serving time for receiving and possessing child pornography. Lance Miller moved into his father's home in December 2014.
After the babysitter's mother learned that a sex offender moved into the home, she confronted Dr. Miller about the situation. He reassured her that he would not leave her daughter alone with his son. According to a lawsuit the babysitter's family filed against the physician, the young woman was home alone with the children and Lance Miller on multiple occasions.
Lance Miller raped the young woman several times between December 2014 and April 2015. When she told Dr. Miller about the encounters in June 2015, he allegedly did not address the situation.
Dr. Miller denies that he was aware of the sexual relationship between his son and the babysitter.
Lance Miller was sentenced to five years in prison in February for the fourth-degree rape of the 15-year-old girl.
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