***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2014

NEW PARIS HOME INVADER FACING 120 YEARS FOLLOWING GUILTY PLEA

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

Jeffrey Hill, 43, pleaded guilty Thursday morning to four felony counts arising from a violent home invasion robbery on November 4, 2013. Hill and his son Jeffery Hunt are accused of breaking into the home of Don and Beverly Neer and attacking Mr. Neer with a tire iron. Mr. Neer suffered serious injury, and the accused confined him to a chair while they searched the house. Mrs. Neer was also injured when she was thrown to the floor. The accused stole several items from the residence including a television and a firearm.

The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department received a tip which led to witnesses who saw the father and son both prior to and after the burglary. Hill made admissions to the witnesses. Sheriff’s Department detectives followed the trail to Chicago where they located items stolen during the burglary. The property retrieved from Hill’s mother’s residence was delivered to Chicago in the same van used during the burglary.

Hill, who has a prior criminal history, faces up to 120 years in prison. Hill admitted in Circuit Court before Judge Terry Shewmaker that he committed the aggravated Robbery, Burglary, and Confinement. Hill’s sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2013. Hunt’s case is currently scheduled for March 17, 2014. This case was handled by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Don Pitzer.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”