A southwest Iowa truck driver accused of opening fire on another semi along the interstate has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
According to the Newton Police Department, 56-year-old Patrick Lee Miller of Malvern fired several shots at another semi-truck in February of last year while traveling on Interstate 80 near Exit 164 in Newton. Investigators described the incident as a case of road rage. The driver of the other semi was not hurt.
Police say the victim exited the interstate on the east side of Newton and contacted authorities. Deputies with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office located Miller about 30 minutes later farther down the interstate. Officers recovered a handgun and several spent shell casings from his truck.
On Monday, District Court Judge Nicholas Bailey accepted Miller’s guilty pleas to reduced charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless use of a firearm causing property damage — both aggravated misdemeanors.
Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1.
