Ex-sheriff Victor Hill in Clayton court

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Ex-sheriff Victor Hill in Clayton court

Photos: Ex-sheriff Victor Hill in Clayton County court to face charges, Jan. 2012.

Former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill is greeted as he leaves the Gwinnett County Jail in Lawrenceville around 3 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012. Hill was jailed in Gwinnett County out of concern for his safety in Clayton County. - Rhonda Cook, AJC

Hill gives a "thumbs-up" sign before exiting the jail. He was released Friday afternoon from Gwinnett County Jail, where he had been held for two days after he was indicted on 37 counts of misusing his office and campaign funds while serving as Clayton County sheriff. - Rhonda Cook, AJC

The indictment charges Hill with four counts of racketeering, 29 counts of theft by taking, two counts of making a false statement and one count each of violation of oath of a public officer and influencing a witness. - Rhonda Cook, AJC

Hill said little as he walked out of the jail. He answered only one question: "How do you feel? Good," he said. A limousine driver in a Cadillac Escalade picked him up. - Rhonda Cook, AJC

Victor Hill's mugshot taken was taken at the Gwinnett County Jail.

Leaving the courtroom after the hearing, Victor Hill yelled to Channel 2 Action News reporter Mark Winne, "I'm still running for sheriff."

Victor Hill was somber while a special grand jury indicted him Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, for crimes he allegedly committed while he was sheriff of Clayton County. It was the newest twist in a colorful career in politics.

Former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill (left) arrived at the Clayton County Courthouse Jan. 18, 2012, to appear before a grand jury considering indicting him on proposed charges of theft by taking, violation of oath of office, and racketeering.

The court appearance is a far cry from Hill's days as Clayton sheriff, when he performed inspections of his deputies in full dress uniform.

Prior to being elected sheriff in 2004, Hill was a Clayton County homicide detective who served as a Democratic Georgia state representative from Riverdale.

Members of a group calling themselves the "New Order National Human Rights Organization", from Marietta, gave a press conference supporting Hill, and were on hand as he arrived at the Clayton County Courthouse.

Hill's tenure as Clayton County sheriff was marked by controversy literally from the beginning, when he fired 27 Sheriff's Department employees on his first day in office in January 2005. One of those fired by Hill, Clayton County Deputy Garland Lee Watkins, checks one of the boxes containing his plaques on the back of his truck in this Friday, Jan. 7, 2004, photo.

Lawyer Harlan Miller holds the door for 26 of the 27 Sheriff's Department employees who were fired and then rehired by Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill. Miller represented the group. The 26 showed up for work Thursday morning at the Harold R. Banke Justice Center in Clayton County only to be demoted and moved off campus to work with at the work release division of the sheriff's department. A judge had ordered Hill to reinstate the workers until the issue was sorted out by the courts.

Hill clashed throughout his term with Clayton County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell (right) over a number of issues. Ultimately, the commission awarded a $7 million settlement to the employees Hill fired on his first day in office. Bell was among the commissioners who supported the workers.

Hill (front left) has actively sought a return to politics after being defeated in the 2008 election. In 2010, he ran unsuccessfullly for state Senate and is running for Clayton County sheriff again in 2012.

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Former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill is greeted as he leaves the Gwinnett County Jail in Lawrenceville around 3 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012. Hill was jailed in Gwinnett County out of concern for his safety in Clayton County. - Rhonda Cook, AJC

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