Rather than relishing the prestige of being sworn as a TRU governor Friday, student politician Adrian Miller spent the day in jail — where he'll remain at least until Monday.

Hours before Miller's criminal court hearing, TRU's board of governors voted in an in-camera meeting to delay Miller’s official swearing in, scheduled the same day. 

Board chairwoman Fiona Chan said the measure was taken for the safety of the staff and students following the student politician's recent arrest record and reports he was sleeping on campus.

Miller remains a senator. He was elected by students to the Senate and board in December.

Miller appeared in provincial court Friday, his second appearance in as many weeks. This time, however, he was in custody seeking bail on a charge that he breached his probation order by providing a wrong address to his supervising officer.

Miller claimed he made a simple mistake, that he was “couch-surfing” at a friend’s house and wasn’t sure about the address.

When asked for the name of the friend, however, Miller said he could not pronounce her last name. When asked to provide at least her phone number, he said it as in his cell phone, which was dead.

A skeptical Judge Stephen Harrison told Miller he will need to back up his stories with some proof before his release from jail will be considered. The judge adjourned the man’s hearing until Monday, meaning Miller will spend at least this weekend in custody.

Prosecutor Catriona Elliott told the judge that Miller has been seen numerous times in recent weeks sleeping in TRU’s computer labs.

Security staff expressed frustration about his continued presence there, she noted.

A security guard was posted, and the door to the floor locked, during Friday’s board of governors meeting to prevent Miller from attending in case he was released from jail.

Chan said the board will delay the swearing in, and consider its options, until its next scheduled meeting in May. He remains a student with regular privileges.

The Crown opposed Miller’s release from jail, saying a recent string of breach allegations — as well as more serious charges of theft and possession of stolen property — suggests he is likely to commit more offences if released.

His probation and bail supervisor describes him as “deceptive and non-cooperative,” Elliott said — apt to describe “black as white and white is black.” He also suggested Miller likely suffers psychiatric issues.

“Given this consistent pattern of resistance . . . of being deceptive and non-cooperative with his probation officer, to release him will lead to more breaches and more offending,” said the prosecutor.

Defence lawyer Sheldon Tate urged the judge to release Miller, saying the man has arranged new living quarters at a hotel near TRU.

“He was sleeping in the computer labs because, frankly, he had no other place to go,” said Tate, noting the court prohibited the student from living at his last residence. The landlords there are the victims of his alleged thefts.

“The difficulties all began when he was dislocated from his residence,” said Tate.

Miller wants to continue to serve the student body that elected him to TRU’s board, Tate said.

Nathan Lane, the executive director of TRU’s Student Union, said students are tiring of the Miller saga.

“It’s getting ridiculous,” he said. “There been so many issues he needs to get sorted out.”