Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill will soon travel to Israel as a prison construction consultant, with his fees going to help pay medical bills for the woman he reportedly shot last month.
Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter said he was notified about two weeks ago of Hill’s travel plans after receiving an email from Mike Puglise, the sheriff’s attorney.
The email did not state how long Hill will be out of the country or how much money he will earn as a consultant.
“He had a pre-planned trip. I don’t really sign off on it,” Porter told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday. “There’s no restrictions on his bond that keeps him from being able to go. I don’t have any say one way or the other.”
When asked if he was concerned about Hill being a flight risk, Porter said, “Do you really think Victor Hill would flee the country over a misdemeanor and give up being sheriff of Clayton County?”
Repeated calls to the sheriff were unanswered Tuesday and Puglise declined to comment.
Hill is charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless conduct for the May 3 shooting of Gwenevere McCord at a model home in the Lawrenceville area of Gwinnett.
The sheriff was allowed to leave the scene the night of the shooting but was later charged. With the exception of a prepared statement a few days after the shooting, Hill, who has stated the shooting occurred while he was "practicing tactics" with McCord, has remained quiet.
McCord, 43, who remains in intensive care, told a Gwinnett police detective late last week the shooting was an accident. It was first time she has been able to speak since the shooting.
Asked Tuesday if her statement has any bearing on the outcome of Hill’s criminal case, Porter said, “I’d really rather not comment until I actually see the statement. Depending on the statement, it may lead to more questions or it could provide answers.”
Meanwhile, Gwinnett police are slated to complete their report on the shooting and turn it over to the DA’s office later this week or by early next week. After he reads the report, Porter said he’ll decide if any additional charges will be filed.
“Theoretically, if there was evidence of another crime, I could charge him with that as well,” Porter said Tuesday.
Hill’s travel plans drew mixed reaction on Tuesday from the residents he serves.
“I don’t think there’s a problem with him leaving the country,” said Forest Park resident Kimberly James. “I think he’s a good man. I don’t know the full story. All I know is that he’s been very prayerful of the lady involved and has asked the community to continue to pray for her.”
But Dale Millican, a former Clayton County activist who now lives in Tyrone, is skeptical and wonders if Hill is getting special treatment.
“He’s one of those who gets to walk between the rain drops,” Millican said. “If it was anybody else, I think they would not have been allowed to leave the country. I have a lot of questions.”
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