Wayne County judge found with loaded gun at Detroit airport

ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A Wayne County judge is in legal trouble after transporting a loaded firearm through the Detroit airport last week.

According to the judge’s attorney, the weapon may not have been registered.

Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller has been a judge in Detroit since 2006. At the age of 36, she had spent thirteen years on the stand^vol District Court, and the last five in the 3rd District Court, where he presides over the family court.

On Saturday, Miller went through security at the Detroit airport on her way to her flight.

That’s when TSA agents found a loaded .380-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun in the judge’s purse.

“He has a CPL,” said Todd Perkins, Miller’s attorney and longtime friend. “He can legally, secretly, possess a firearm in Michigan.”

However, the law prohibits carrying loaded firearms in hand luggage.

Sources tell 7 News Detroit that Miller told police at the airport that the gun belonged to her brother, who lives in Ohio. Ohio does not require firearm registration.

But Michigan does, and Perkins admits he doesn’t know whether the gun the judge was carrying was registered when it was discovered.

Perkins says Judge Miller has been going through a difficult time in his personal life recently, spending time caring for a loved one who is struggling with health issues. Perkins stated that her mind could have been elsewhere that day.

“Only this day will tell what impression she was under when all this took place,” Perkins said.

“But it’s not like she’s an average citizen,” said Channel 7’s Ross Jones. “She is
judge.”

“She’s not looking for any credit for being a judge, she definitely doesn’t,” Perkins said. “He holds himself accountable and will hold himself accountable, just like anyone else.”

“And the judge, as you would expect, knows Michigan law,” Jones replied.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Perkins said. “And we don’t run away from it.”

Perkins says the judge was charged with possessing a dangerous weapon at an airport, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Matthew Zick, Romulus’ city attorney, referred questions about the accusation to the Wayne County Airport Authority.

Airport spokeswoman Erica Donerson did not respond to questions about Miller’s ongoing case.

Judge Miller did not respond to phone calls or text messages seeking comment.

Contact Detective 7 Ross Jones at [email protected] or (248) 827-9466.