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Highlands Today

Hill, Willis Cases Next Before Court April 22

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: March 23, 2009

SEBRING The cases of Travis Kelton Hill III and Adam Wayne Willis were both continued Wednesday until April 22, with no trial date set for either.

Hill, 20, was in the Highlands County Courthouse Wednesday with his attorney, Richard Pipkin, for a pretrial conference. He is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and negligent vehicular manslaughter after the Dec. 30, 2006 death of Kristin Marie Dessingue, 16, of Coconut Creek. She was a passenger in the defendant's truck.

A Florida Highway Patrol report found that Hill missed a left-hand curve and lost control, which caused the truck to flip several times. Both Hill and Dessingue were ejected.

Jury selection was originally set for Feb. 9, but was postponed.

Willis was not present for his pretrial conference, but attorney William Fletcher was. The charges against the Avon Park police officer are first-degree armed burglary of a structure or conveyance and grand theft.

He allegedly got into a car while wearing his Avon Park Police Department uniform and gloves and took a wallet from the console.

The car was used by the APPD and the local office of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in an undercover operation. It was equipped with surveillance equipment that reportedly recorded the theft.

Both departments were investigating allegations that officers were taking money from illegal aliens during traffic stops.

A second APPD officer, Alberto Perez, was also arrested and charged with extortion or threats. His next court appearance is an April 23 pretrial conference.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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