Suspended Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill takes the stand in federal trial

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - Suspended Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill told jurors Thursday he stands by the decisions he made to order six men into restraint chairs in his jail in 2019 and 2020.

Hill's testimony came as part of his federal trial on charges that he violated the rights of seven pre-trial detainees who were strapped into those chairs for hours on end. Hill is only alleged to have ordered the restraint of six of the seven, though he recorded a video of himself lecturing the seventh man while he was confined to a restraint chair.

Throughout the trial, the alleged victims have testified that sitting in a restraint chair was "like torture," that they were forced to urinate on themselves and suffered lasting physical and mental effects.

"If they suffered pain, that was not the intent," Sheriff Hill testified. 

Hill was the key witness as the defense presented their case. Defense attorney Marissa Goldberg walked Hill through the circumstances surrounding each alleged victim and he explained why he decided to put them in restraint chairs because of "aggressive" or "destructive" behavior.  

According to Clayton County Sheriff's Office policy, "officers may use the restraint chair for emergencies [...] when an inmate has demonstrated violent or uncontrollable behavior [...] or to prevent inmate self-injury, injury to others or property damage."

"The chair can be used as a preventative measure, not just a reactive measure," said Hill.  

PROSECUTION RESTS IN TRIAL OF SUSPENDED CLAYTON COUNTY SHERIFF VICTOR HILL

Prosecutors, however, argued that none of the detainees were exhibiting that behavior during their time in the jail and did not pose an active threat at the time they were put in the chairs.  

Sheriff Hill said his determinations were not just made based on an inmate's current status, but also with the "prior knowledge" he possessed about them, including the charges against them and their conduct as they were arrested.  

"It doesn't have a timeline," Hill explained.  

Sheriff Hill was on the stand for more than three hours before the defense rested their case.

The jury is scheduled to return Friday morning for closing arguments.