Prosecution and defense attorneys get their chances to make their cases directly to the jury in closing arguments Wednesday and then the three women and nine men will begin deciding if Clayton Sheriff Victor Hill is guilty of racketeering, theft by taking and violating his oath.
Both sides rested Tuesday with the final witness, testifying for the defense, offering a tally that the investigation into Hill, as well as others under investigation by a special purpose grand jury, had cost: $405,000 for the 48 weeks that Hill was one of a number of the Clayton County officials the grand jury was looking into. She testified the costs covered 11 people who were already on the payroll working on investigations or at other posts within the agency and the gas for their vehicles over the 48 weeks of the total investigation.
In all, the prosecution called 15 witnesses and the defense called two. Hill, charged with 27 felonies, did not testify.
“I do not desire to testify,” Hill told the judge Tuesday in response to a question.
On the final day of testimony, one of the charges against Hill was dismissed, influencing a witness who had been called to answer questions from the grand jury investigating corruption in Clayton County government. Since the indictment was returned in January 2012, a total of 10 of the original 37 counts have either been dismissed or dropped.
Hill is now charged with two counts of racketeering, 22 counts of theft by taking, two counts of making a false statement and one count of violating his oath of office. Prosecutors say he used county-issued cars and credit cards and took gas from the county pumps for out-of-state vacations, all but one after he lost his 2008 re-election bid. He is accused of having a jail staffer counted as on paid administrative leave so she could travel with him to Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina but still get paid. Hill also allegedly required the the office’s spokesman to work he autobiography during county work hours.
If Hill is convicted of all charges and given the maximum punishment, he could be sentenced to up to 385 years in prison. He would immediately be removed from office and he could be taken into custody right away. The law allows for the chief deputy to temporarily fill the job of sheriff until a special election can be held.
If Hill, 48, is acquitted, he can move to have his law enforcement certification activated, which would allow him to make arrests and serve warrants. It was suspended when he was indicted in January 2012.
Throughout the trial the defense has used its questions of prosecution witnesses to get across to the jury that their contention that the investigation of Hill was politically-motivated. The investigation began shortly after Hill, a former state legislator and police homicide detective, announced he would run against the sitting sheriff, Kem Kimbrough, the man he lost to in 2008 but then defeated in 2012.
Kimbrough was not called even though he appeared on the prosecution’s witness list.
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