Ozark, AL — An Ozark man has pled guilty to criminally negligent homicide after a violent altercation with his roommate over a snack led to the victim’s death. Daryl Miley, 45, was sentenced to 12 months in Dale County Jail at the end of January, following a tragic incident that unfolded in April 2024.
Initially charged with manslaughter, a Class B felony, Miley’s charges were later reduced to criminally negligent homicide, a Class A misdemeanor, after a grand jury indictment. According to court records, the fatal dispute occurred after Miley and his 63-year-old roommate, Billy Joe Maynard, became involved in a heated argument over an alleged Pop-Tart theft.
The altercation escalated when Miley struck Maynard in the torso with a metal pipe. Maynard was subsequently rushed to Dale Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries several days later. Following the victim’s death, Ozark Police launched an investigation into the incident, during which Miley eventually confessed to the crime in an interview.
The case has sparked shock in the local community, as it highlights the unpredictable and sometimes tragic consequences of conflicts over seemingly insignificant matters. Miley’s plea to criminally negligent homicide and the resulting jail sentence reflects a legal decision that has left some questioning the severity of the charges compared to the circumstances.
With the 12-month jail term now handed down, authorities are emphasizing the importance of resolving disputes without resorting to violence, regardless of how minor the disagreement may seem.
