LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill pleaded no contest to reckless conduct in the 2015 shooting of real estate agent and friend Gwenevere McCord, according to the Gwinnett Co. District Attorney's office.
Hill had never denied that he'd accidentally shot 43-year-old McCord in May 2015 inside a model home. McCord did not want to press charges against Hill. "And I think that probably would have hurt us had we gone to trial," said district attorney Danny Porter. "The fact that he was a sheriff didn’t have anything to do with the resolution of it. As a matter of fact, I tried to look at it as, I shouldn’t treat him any differently than any other citizen who runs afoul of the law."
Hill's attorney, Mike Puglise, tells 11Alive News that Hill was "on probation for an hour," until the time he paid his fine and court costs.
Hill was sentenced to twelve months probation and a $1000 fine. He was given first offender status, allowing probation to be terminated after he pays the fines and fees associated with his plea.
Puglise says the first-offender treatment all-but wipes clean Hill's criminal record. "This case has been dismissed, basically, on first offender status," Puglise said. Hill, who hasn't granted a news media interview since 2012, was not available for comment.
Porter disputed Puglise's characterization of it. "He’s essentially completed his sentence, I think is the more technically legal way to describe it," Porter said.
The plea means that an investigation by POST, the state agency that certifies law enforcement officers in Georgia, will go forward. POST director Ken Vance tells 11Alive News that the POST board will likely make a decision on Hill's law enforcement certification by the end of 2016.
POST could revoke Hill's certification, though it wouldn't automatically impact his status as Clayton County sheriff. Hill easily beat four challengers in this year's Democratic primary. He has no Republican opposition in November.
POST could suspend, revoke or put Hill's certification on probation. If POST takes such action, then the Georgia Sheriffs Association could make a recommendation on whether to ask Gov. Nathan Deal to remove Hill from office.
11Alive's Doug Richards is investigating. Watch 11Alive news at 5:00 for his live report. Check back with 11Alive.com within the hour for additional details on this new story.
