Ex-Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill files appeal following prison sentence

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Attorneys representing former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill on Friday filed an appeal of his October conviction for violating the civil rights of inmates.

Security guards used an umbrella to try to block our camera view of the arrival of Hill for his sentencing hearing in federal court Tuesday.

The judge sentenced Hill to 18 months in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release for violating the civil rights of six detainees at the Clayton County jail by ordering them strapped into restraint chairs for hours on end.

“The lack of remorse for his criminal activity and the way that they abused inmates was just shocking to me,” Attorney Thomas Reynolds said.

As a condition of his release, the judge told Hill he can never work in law enforcement again, including as a consultant. She also told the former sheriff his arrogance was his downfall. She said, “Your love of power somehow overcame your love of the law.”

“All of our communities pay a significant price when law enforcement officials abuse their power. We hope this sentence brings some closure to victims of civil rights violations,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Chris Macrae said.

One of the alleged victims is Cleveland Jackson. While he was not named in the Federal case, he said he was arrested and strapped in a restraint chair for six hours.

“Right is right, wrong is wrong no matter who does it and as far as I’m concerned, he needs more time to think but again some time is better than no time,” Former Clayton County inmate Cleveland Jackson said.

“There will be an appeal on several grounds. One of which if you look at the filings that there is no notice. So, notice means that you know that something you’re doing could be a crime,” Findling said.

Upon release, Hill must serve six years of supervised release. He must pay a $600 assessment and do 100 hours of pre-approved community service. He must also refrain from occupations in law enforcement, including consulting work.

ORIGINAL STORY:

After being convicted in October of violating the constitutional rights of detainees, former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill will be sentenced Tuesday in federal court.

Hill will find out how long he’ll spend in federal prison after a jury found him guilty of six of the seven charges he faced.

The sentencing hearing for former sheriff Hill is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors have recommended that Hill serve a sentence of 46 months in jail for violating the civil rights of inmates.

Hill was suspended by Gov. Brian Kemp after he was arrested in April of 2021 for his treatment of inmates in the Clayton County Jail, a facility he dubbed “Georgia’s toughest para-military jail.”

The indictment alleged that Hill, without any legal justification, ordered his employees to strap detainees into restraint chairs and keep them there for hours in violation of their constitutional rights.

Voters in Clayton County will pick a new sheriff in a special election March 21. Early voting is already underway in the race.

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