Final Town of Niagara home invasion suspect ordered to serve 30 year prison term

Rick Pfeiffer, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·2 min read

Apr. 18—The final defendant in a violent Town of Niagara home invasion and shooting in January 2023 has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars.

Niagara County Court Judge Caroline Wojtaszek handed down the sentence to Kalique Miller, 19, of Niagara Falls, on Thursday. Wojtaszek sentenced Miller to 10 years in prison for his guilty plea to charges of attempted aggravated assault on a police officer and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the home invasion.

The judge also sentenced Miller to a term of 20 years behind bars for his guilty plea to a charge of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the shooting of a 22-year-old Niagara Falls woman in November 2022. Wojtaszek ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.

Miller had admitted to shooting at Town of Niagara Police Officer James Bissell while trying to flee a Porter Road apartment complex following a botched home invasion robbery. He also admitted to the attempted murder, saying he shot and struck the Niagara Falls woman multiple times.

"Police officers put themselves in harm's way every day in order to protect our community. Thankfully Officer Bissell was not harmed in this instance," Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman said. "Also, thankfully, the young woman that this defendant shot is recovering well from her injuries. The judge's sentence ensures that this dangerous individual will not pose a threat to others in the community for a very long time."

Miller was the third defendant to be sentenced in connection with the Town of Niagara home invasion robbery.

Wojtaszek previously sentenced Cornelius Redden III, 28, to 12 to 14 years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree burglary in connection with the home invasion and to a charge of attempted second-degree assault in connection with an unrelated incident while he was in custody at the Niagara County jail.

Redden, along with 24-year-old Charles Richardson, and Miller, were all originally indicted by a Niagara County grand jury on counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, first- and second-degree burglary, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with a home invasion-style robbery and burglary at two units in the Royal Park Apartments on the 8500 block of Porter Road in January 2023. The incident led to a three-hour lockdown of the apartment complex and a nearby neighborhood.

Wojtaszek previously sentenced Richardson to a four-year prison term and 5 years of post-release supervision after he pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary tied to the home invasion.