Clermont County Man Sentenced for Shooting into Moving Vehicle on State Route 125

Clermont County Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve announced today that on Monday, December 1st, Miles Popp was sentenced today for a dangerous roadside shooting that occurred on August 4, 2025, near State Route 125 in Bethel, Ohio. He will spend the next 7 years in prison.

On August 4th, 2025 a man called 911 reporting that someone shot at him while he was driving his motor vehicle. He told dispatchers he had been traveling on Starling Road behind a man, later determined to be Popp, who was erratically operating a blue Kia, as he was swerving across lanes and rapidly changing speeds. After safely passing the vehicle, the victim heard three quick bangs and immediately felt something strike the back of his neck. He accelerated away from the scene and contacted law enforcement.

Deputies from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office met with the victim in Bethel. Upon inspection, deputies discovered that his back window had been shattered and that a bullet had traveled through the rear headrest, striking both the driver’s side panel and dashboard. The bullet trajectory showed it came within inches of striking the victim in the head.

Investigators with the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office quickly identified the suspect’s vehicle using Flock camera systems, which captured both the vehicle and its license plate. The vehicle was located at a residence in Brown County. The defendant was found hiding in a barn on the property.

Deputies executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered a 9mm firearm. The defendant later admitted to firing the gun.

“This incident could easily have ended in tragedy,” said Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve. “Firing a weapon from a vehicle and into another one, on a public roadway is incredibly dangerous to many people and will not be tolerated in our community.”