CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. – Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill’s attorneys are appealing his suspension to the Georgia Supreme Court.
A statement by attorney Alan G. Parker released Tuesday by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office called the suspension politically motivated and stressed that Georgia law limits the length of the suspension if the officer is not tried in court “in the first term of the court.” will.
A federal grand jury indicted Hill in April on civil rights violations after he allegedly ordered deputies to strap inmates at the Clayton County jail in restraint chairs for hours. The Justice Department believes there is evidence that Hill deprived the detainees of due process and that the use of force caused pain and physical harm.
Hill pleaded not guilty and Governor Brian Kemp suspended Hill pending the outcome of the federal case against him.
A Fulton County Superior Court judge denied a motion to vacate the governor’s suspension in December.
“Sheriff Hill’s defense attorneys are prepared to go to court to clear him of clearly politically motivated charges,” Parker said in a statement.
The testimony provides motives from Hill’s “political enemies,” who in some cases recruited alleged victims named in the indictment. Hills’ attorney claimed there were valid reasons for detaining individuals and that none suffered physical injuries and were monitored by prison officials and health professionals.
A 12-page indictment alleges Hill suspended inmates for hours and, in one instance, molested a landscaper who had a payment dispute with a Clayton County assemblyman. Hill’s attorneys allege the landscaper was “solicited” by Butt County Sheriff Gary Long, a deputy to former Clayton County Sheriff Kem Kimbrough. The prosecution alleges Hill personally communicated with the alleged victim before he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge. The prosecution alleges the alleged victim spoke to prison staff before Hill confronted him and later ordered subjects to be strapped to a restraining chair.
COPY OF THE CHARGE
The statement also mentions a criminal case against Bleckley County Sheriff Kristopher Coody, who entered the Cobb County Jail on sexual battery charges against a judge.
“It will be interesting to see if the governor suspends him until the end of his term or until his case goes to court like he did with Sheriff Hill.”
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