Domestic-violence case against Hill likely to move forward

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill appears destined for a trial date at the end of July.

The 27-year-old made his second appearance in Issaquah Municipal Court on Friday morning regarding a domestic dispute that allegedly occurred between Hill and his live-in girlfriend at his Issaquah home in April.

Hill faces a misdemeanor charge of assault for his role in that April 10 incident.

Friday’s hearing was another step in the process as prosecutors try to determine if they have enough evidence to go to trial.

Issaquah prosecutor Lynn Moberly, a former King County prosecutor who specializes in domestic-violence cases, said she believes the city has enough evidence to move forward with a trial.

“I think so, yes,” Moberly said.

Another pretrial hearing will be held July 14, and ultimately a readiness hearing will be held July 23 in which prosecutors will have to decide whether they have enough evidence to ask for a trial date. If that occurs, a trial likely would begin the following week.

Brian Fortner, solicitor-general for Douglas County, Ga., indicated in May that if prosecutors in Issaquah move forward with their case against Hill, he will likely file a motion to revoke Hill’s probation, which would require Hill to appear at a court hearing in Georgia.

The incident in Issaquah was Hill’s second run-in with the law in just over a year. The April incident occurred just 10 days after Hill was sentenced to 12 months probation for misdemeanor drug possession stemming from a Jan. 24, 2009, incident in which police found him asleep in his vehicle parked at an intersection in suburban Atlanta. There was marijuana in the car.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have directed Hill to stay away from team headquarters while he resolves his legal issues. They await advice from the league on how to handle the situation.

According to a league spokesperson, Hill’s case remains under review.

But Carroll admitted this week that the practices Hill is missing may prove costly.

“If that didn’t matter, then why would you practice,” Carroll said. “Practice is hugely important. There’s a new system. There’s a whole new approach to how we’re doing things. And it’s certainly hindered his opportunity. Without question, the other guys have rocketed ahead with their chances and taken advantage of that.

“That’s just part of the competition. You do what you can with your opportunities. So he’s going to have to battle back if we can get him back out there.”

With Hill out, David Hawthorne has been working at weak-side outside linebacker.

Linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. has indicated that he’s pleased so far with Hawthorne’s performance, and considers him a starter.

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks