Murder-Trial Cooperation Earns LeniencyFor CU Robber

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. - (03/23/05) -- A drug dealer convicted of lastJanuary's armed robbery at Greater Niles Community FCU will begranted a lighter jail term when he is sentenced next month inexchange for his testimony in a murder trial this week. Authoritieshave agreed to not consider three previous felony convictionsagainst Odie Miller when he is sentenced April 28 for the $10,000credit union robbery because Miller's testimony helped convict hisjailhouse cellmate Rodney Hubbard of murder this week. It as a July25 conversation with Hubbard, secretly recorded by Miller, in whichHubbard bagged about the 1999 killing, that was key to the murdertrial, authorities said. Miller's accomplice in the credit unionrobbery was sentenced last July to as long as 75 years injail.