Hill's plea negotiation rejected
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By Dustin Lemmon | Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
A Rock Island County judge rejected a plea agreement in the Pachino Hill case Tuesday that would have given him 120 days in jail.
Judge Charles “Casey” Stengel said he would accept an agreement with a cap of no more than two years in prison.
Hill, 29, who is facing a felony charge for fleeing from a Rock Island County Sheriff’s deputy, looked surprised by the judge’s decision and did not agree to the cap, deciding to go to trial on
the charge.
Stengel noted in court that he rejected a previous plea offer with Hill because the judge expected Hill was going to do “serious time” under similar charges filed in Scott County. Last week, a Scott County judge sentenced Hill to counseling and to attend church services for eight weeks in the case.
“I just don’t understand him not stopping for several miles,” Stengel said, noting Hill’s actions were a danger to the public.
Hill faced charges in both courts in connection with the chase, which started in Rock Island and ended in Davenport. The deputy was trying to stop Hill last October for a broken headlight and eventually caught him after a foot chase in the area of 12th Street and Pershing Avenue.
Rock Island County Public Defender Dave Hoffman asked for Hill’s trial, which was to occur later this week, to be continued because of ongoing media coverage in recent days. He said two local television stations described Hill as the most notorious criminal in the Quad-Cities.
Stengel agreed to continue the case and set Hill’s trial for
June 2.
“By that time, maybe things will have calmed down around here,” Stengel said.
Hill has a lengthy criminal history, including several shooting incidents, but not all of the cases have resulted in convictions. He received 15 years in prison when he was 14 for voluntary manslaughter and terrorism in connection with the shooting death of Lawrence Brown Johnson.
In December 2002, Hill was one of three men charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at a Davenport police officer. A lack of evidence caused Scott County prosecutors to drop those charges. Hill was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon in connection with that incident, but a judge later ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge him with any offense and dismissed
the case.
In October 2004, Hill was arrested for helping Bryan Mitchell of Davenport leave the area of the fatal shooting of Grayling Church, 20, of Davenport. He also was accused of concealing the weapon and keeping witnesses from giving statements. Hill was found not guilty of that charge.
In March 2006, Hill was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a 28-year-old man in the thigh. He pleaded guilty to assault resulting in bodily injury and was sentenced to one year probation and a $250 fine.
Hill remains free while awaiting trial.
Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.
Comment on this story at qctimes.com.
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