Joshua Lee Altersberger's case continues through the Polk County court system almost three months after he was formally sentenced to die and will next be back before Judge J. Michael Hunter on Dec. 12. ...more

October 2, 2009

Attorneys on both sides will return to Judge J. Michael Hunter's courtroom May 22 for the conclusion of the Spencer hearing for Joshua Lee Altersberger. ...more

May 9, 2009

BARTOW — A central Florida jury has recommended the death sentence for a 21-year-old man who killed a Florida Highway Patrol trooper. Sgt. Nick Sottile was fatally shot during a traffic stop near Lake Placid in 2007. Joshua Lee Altersberger pleaded guilty last month to first degree murder. ...more

April 3, 2009

A Polk County jury, on a 9-3 majority, recommended the death penalty for Joshua Lee Altersberger. ...more

April 2, 2009

A psychological evaluation of Joshua Lee Altersberger was the testimony provided by expert witnesses in the beginning of the third day of his penalty trial. ...more

April 1, 2009

Emotional statements from the family of Sgt. Nicholas Sottile ended the first day of testimony in the penalty trial of Joshua Lee Altersberger. ...more

March 31, 2009

"Ten twenty-four, I've been shot. Ten twenty-four, I've been shot." The call was the second one Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Edward Finneran said he heard from Sgt. Nicholas Sottile on the afternoon of Jan. 12, 2007. ...more

March 30, 2009

This jury will not decide guilt or innocence, but rather life or death. ...more

March 21, 2009

The next to the last chapter in a tragic story was completed Friday, when Joshua Lee Altersberger pleaded guilty to first degree murder in the death of State Trooper Nicholas Sottile. The story won't be complete, however, until a jury decides if the death penalty awaits Altersberger. ...more

March 15, 2009

The man charged with killing Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Sottile pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree murder, three days before jury selection was to begin in his trial. ...more

March 13, 2009