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Local school superintendent indicted

Hill could face up to two years in jail

Date published: 2/21/2006

By GEORGE WHITEHURST

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

A Spotsylvania County grand jury has indicted county school Superintendent Jerry Hill on charges of obstructing justice and violating state election law.

The grand jury handed up the two indictments today.

The first accuses Hill of violating a state law that allows governing bodies-not school boards-to publish educational materials on bond referendums. It also alleges that Hill violated another law that bans public school students from being required to deliver materials that advocate support or opposition of candidates or issues such as referendums.

The second indictment charges Hill with obstruction of justice.

If convicted on both counts, Hill could face up to two years in jail and $5,000 in fines.

The indictments stem from a four-and-a-half month investigation by special prosecutor Matt Britton into a flier prepared by Spotsylvania school staff about last year’s $41 million school bond referendum.

Spotsylvania Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Neely recused him self from the case because his wife is a Spotsylvania school teacher. A Circuit Court judge then turned the investigation over to Britton, King George County’s commonwealth’s attorney.

Both Hill and School Board members were questioned in the probe.

Hill’s attorneys, Steven Webster and Aaron Book issued a statement this evening, saying they look forward to Hill’s exoneration. “Dr. Hill acted with the full approval of the School Board, after consultation with its attorneys.”

Hill also issued a statement. “These indictments which target me personally are puzzling since I work for the School Board and followed their direction during the development and distribution of the flier…I look forward to a quick and fair resolution of this matter so the important work being done in this school division can continue uninterrupted.”

Britton wouldn’t say yesterday why School Board members were not charged, saying he doesn’t comment “on the substance of indictments” before they go to court.

Asked about the nature of the obstruction charge, Britton said the accusation is that Hill “lied [to] or misled Detective [Joe] Cagnina.” Cagnina is a Spotsylvania detective who investigated the allegations against Hill and the School Board.

Britton said he recommended that Hill be released on a $2,500 personal recognizance bond.

Spotsylvania Sheriff Howard Smith said yesterday that his office won’t take any action until his office receives the indictments from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.

He added that since the charges are misdemeanors and Hill poses no flight risk, deputies likely will serve the indictments to him like a subpoena.

Hill could later meet deputies at the magistrate’s office to sign the recognizance bond.

The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors asked for the investigation. The two boards were feuding over the amount of money to be borrowed for school capital projects. School Board members wanted to borrow $184 million, the supervisors approved only $41 million. Voters approved the latter in November.

For more on this story, read tomorrow’s Free Lance-Star

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Date published: 2/21/2006