Ex-Clayton Sheriff to be imprisoned in Arkansas

Although attorneys for former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill have asked a federal court to grant a bond pending appeal, Hill has been ordered to report to an Arkansas prison to begin an 18-month sentence on his October conviction.

Hill was convicted by a federal jury in October of violating the civil rights of six detainees by ordering staff at the Clayton County jail to strap them into restraint chairs as punishment, which is illegal. The chairs can only be used legally to stop the inmate from harming himself or others.

At noon on May 15, Hill must turn himself into FCI Forrest City in Forrest City, Arkansas, according to documents released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice. FCI Forrest City is described as “a low-security facility with an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp.”

Attorneys for Hill asked the federal court to allow him to remain free on bond pending an appeal, which they filed with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. In their motion for Hill to remain free on bond, lawyers said, “If Mr. Hill is denied bond while his appeal is pending, he will almost certainly serve his entire sentence before the appeal is even resolved — which would work a manifest miscarriage of justice if the appeal comes out his way. For these reasons, Mr. Hill respectfully asks this Court to allow him to remain on bond while he litigates his appeal.” 

Pointing to arrogance by Hill, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross sentenced him to 18 months in March. Ross said, “My sincerest prayer for you is that you would sit down for a moment and think about everything.”