John-Paul Miller released on bond after assault charge; attorney says pastor being stalked by protesters
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Solid Rock church pastor John-Paul Miller was released from the Myrtle Beach jail Thursday morning after posting bond on an assault charge tied to an obscenity-laced confrontation with a female protester near the Market Common church.
Miller was arrested late Wednesday night and charged with third-degree assault and held until after he appeared in court. He was released after posting a $776 bond but is due back in court at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 10.
Protesters have regularly gathered outside the church since Miller's wife, Mica, was found dead at the Lumber River State Park in Robeson County in April. Authorities ruled her death a suicide, but reports that he had abused her sparked the so-called "Justice for Mica" protest movement that has led to calls for changes in state domestic violence laws.
During Thursday morning's hearing, a victim advocate asked for a no-contact order for the woman who says Miller touched the brim of her hat during Wednesday's incident that led to police being called to Hemlock Avenue near the church. The judge denied the request.
The protester provided News13 with a video she took during the confrontation on Wednesday. On Thursday, Miller's attorney, Russell Long, also showed News13 a different video of the incident that he insisted be viewed in front of some 'Justice for Mica' protesters who were in court for Miller's bond hearing.
Long referred to the protesters as "stalkers" both inside and outside of the courtroom Thursday morning and called their actions against Miller "harassment." He also said he has "begged" city authorities to help Miller but no action has been taken.
Long also provided News13 with a copy of the arrest warrant describing what allegedly happened Wednesday afternoon. In part, it indicates the woman called out to Miller "Here Kitty Kitty," prompting him to get "into the victim's face" and put up his phone as though he was recording her.
According to the warrant, that's when he allegedly "tapped the brim" of her baseball cap. The warrant also says a witness saw Miller hit the woman's hat two times.
"The bigger story is not this assault charge," Long said. "This is simple and easily handleable, and I am willing to wager that it'll be found not guilty or dismissed eventually. The bigger problem is this group of people won't leave him alone. They will not." Meanwhile, the woman who claims Miller assaulted her, told News13 that the beginning of Wednesday's incident was not captured on video. She said it began after she approached a man who was recording her and the protesters and asked him if he needed anything.
News13 contacted Miller Thursday morning, and he refused to comment about the incident.
"Please never contact me again in any way, shape or form, nor anyone from your office," he said.
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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13 . He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of his work here .
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Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook , or Instagram , and read more of her work here .
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Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook , and X, formerly Twitter . You can also read more of her work, here .
