Penticton, B.C., city councillor convicted of sex offences, city says seat vacant

PENTICTON — The City of Penticton says James Miller will not be returning to his position as a city councillor after being convicted of an indictable criminal offence.

The Penticton Herald reports that Miller, who was also the managing editor of that newspaper, was found guilty of five sexual offences involving minors.

The charges related to allegations of sexual misconduct involving two complainants who were boys in the early 1990s when Miller was coaching youth basketball in Sarnia, Ont.

Miller was found not guilty on two other changes and is still waiting for the results of a separate trial, which involves allegations of sexual offences against minors when he lived in Sarnia in the 1980s and 1990s.

A statement from the City of Penticton says Miller’s mandatory leave ended on the date of his conviction, and his seat on council is now vacant.

The city says rather than holding a byelection, the seat will stay empty until the municipal general election next month.

The newspaper reports that Miller has been on mandatory paid leave since August 2024, earning a salary of about $30,000.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2026

The Canadian Press