August 13, 2009
El Paso attorney Gary Hill, 64, was indicted by a state grand jury Wednesday on aggravated assault charges stemming from a July 22 parking lot altercation with Jorge Pedroza in which he is accused of pulling a pistol.
Hill was arrested and charged with the offense, a second degree felony, on the day of the alleged incident.
Hill’s lawyer, Richard Esper, said the pistol that Hill is accused of pulling from his car and threatening Pedroza, the driver of the other car after a collision has yet to be found.
“I haven’t seen the indictment yet, but I understand the charge is assault with a deadly weapon.” Esper said. “They never found one the day it happened, though they searched his car and office – and no weapon.”
The accident occurred in the parking lot outside the building where Hill has his law office at 801 N. El Paso when both men backed out of spaces at the same time and collided.
Esper said the two exchanged words and a heated argument ensued that was witnessed by a passing motorist who called the police.
“The other individual said Mr. Hill went to his car and got a gun and threatened him,” said Esper, whose office is in the same building. “The police got there very quickly."
But by the time they arrived, Hill was back in his office.
“He gave them permission to search his office and person, and they didn’t find a weapon,” Esper said.
Esper said Hill was in his car with another man who witnessed the events and has said Hill never pulled a gun.
However, in addition to accusing Hill of displaying the pistol and threatening Pedroza with it, the indictment alleges that Hill left the scene with it.
"And it is further presented that the said defendant used and exhibited a deadly weapon, to wot: a firearm, during the commission and immediate flight from said offense."
Hill, who is considered one of El Paso's top criminal defense lawyers, has been in the news frequently for his defense in various cases, including:
-- He is the lawyer of record for Judge Manuel Barraza, who was indicted on corruption charges and arrested in early April.
-- He defended Jeannie Coutta, one of the co-owners of the Naked Harem, who was charged with running prostitution in her club. The judge in the case declared a mistrial in late June.
-- Another client of his, Eric Michael Sanchez, 24, was acquitted of murder and aggravated assault charges in February, stemming from stabbing death in 2007 of Gabriel Lopez II.
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To reach David Crowder, write to dcrowder@epmediagroup.com or call (915) 351-0605, ext. 30, or 630-6622.