Schenectady man gets up to 14 years in prison for eighth and ninth DWI convictions

A 65-year-old Schenectady man has been sentenced to up to 14 years in prison for crashing into a gas pump and driving over a motorcyclist while intoxicated.

Daniel Miller was found guilty on Oct. 31, after a jury trial on multiple charges stemming from incidents in 2022 and 2023.

On Oct. 20, 2022, Miller crashed his truck into a diesel pump at Stewart’s Shops on Mariaville Road in the town of Rotterdam, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. He bought alcohol and cigarettes and did not notify workers of the damage. A store clerk reviewed store video and identified Miller.

Miller’s license had been revoked.

In a separate incident on April 21, 2023, prosecutors said he was making a left turn into his driveway and drove into a motorcycle driven by 30-year-old Andrew Beckham. Beckham abandoned his bike to avoid the collision and Miller kept driving and drove over Beckman’s chest. He then went into his residence and did not help the victim or call for emergency services. He had multiple broken and displaced ribs.

In addition, on July 13, 2023, Miller was arrested on driving while intoxicated charge after consuming two “tall boy” beers, according to the DA’s Office.

At trial, Miller denied that he was intoxicated, but said he had a multitude of self-diagnosed medical conditions, according to prosecutors. 

Miller has nine felony convictions, including a violent assault, and 36 misdemeanor convictions. Prosecutors had requested that he be designated as a persistent felony offender, which could have carried up to life in prison. 

The court declined and sentenced him on Jan. 8, 2025 to the maximum on the two counts of driving while intoxicated, which carry a sentence of to 7 years. They are to run consecutively.