Defendant's anger in DuPage court gets him jail

Derek D. Hill came to court Wednesday for a simple seat-belt violation.

By the end of the day, the 33-year-old Naperville man had a six-month jail term, $500 fine and battered face after a courtroom dispute turned violent.

The melee unfolded in DuPage Associate Judge Jane H. Mitton's courtroom as Hill was set to go on trial for a Jan. 20 seat-belt ticket in Naperville.

Mitton had a deputy sheriff take Hill into custody after she said he became confrontational. Hill still could be heard in the courtroom even after the deputy moved him into a private holding area where inmates go before being taken back to the jail.

Hours later, after an afternoon lunch break, a handcuffed Hill appeared before the judge again, this time surrounded by several deputies. Hill's right eye was swollen shut and badly bruised. A large gash was visible on his forehead.

"Look at my face," he said, alleging police brutality. "I'm asking for all the pictures of my face."

Mitton found Hill guilty of contempt of court. She imposed the maximum punishment of six months in jail and a $500 fine. She also gave Hill a tongue lashing.

"With all due respect," Mitton said, "I don't need you to tell me what happened in front of my eyes. The conduct you displayed in this courtroom was contemptuous. There is almost no level of contempt that could have been more disruptive."

Authorities said Hill will likely face felony charges of aggravated resisting arrest and criminal damage to property for the scuffle in which a deputy also suffered a minor injury.

The deputy and Hill were treated at a hospital and released shortly later.

"He did need to be restrained," said Dawn Domrose, a sheriff spokeswoman, who denied excessive force was used. "They only used the force that they needed to restrain him."

It wasn't Hill's first police encounter.

He was ordered two years ago to serve a 30-day jail term, undergo anger counseling and write an apology letter to a female Naperville police officer who Hill was convicted of injuring during a March 22, 2005, traffic stop when he rolled up his car window on her arm.

In Wednesday's incident, Hill said he never intended to physically harm anyone. Hill explained he was just frustrated with his legal woes, which include a recent court decision to garnish his wages for late child-support payments.

"I was upset, but I never hit anyone," he said. "I think I've been mistreated."

Meanwhile, Judge Mitton rescheduled Hill's seat-belt violation trial for Oct. 6.