A judge fatally shot himself as authorities attempted to arrest him during his second encounter with law enforcement in less than a week, according to the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. Marshals located Lavaca County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Travis Hill at a remote location in Gonzales County, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The marshals “attempted to safely take Hill into custody and provided him the opportunity to surrender peacefully.”
During that interaction, the sheriff’s office said Hill fatally shot himself. No injuries to law enforcement were reported.
The Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office said it became aware of misconduct allegations involving Hill around six weeks ago, which prompted a request for the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers to conduct a special investigation.
Because Hill served as both an elected official and a practicing criminal defense attorney — including as a public defender — the Lavaca County Attorney’s Office formally recused itself from the case. The Texas Attorney General’s Office was asked to take over prosecution.
Hill, who also worked as a criminal defense attorney, faced three charges:
- Compelling prostitution, a first-degree felony
- Sexual assault, a second-degree felony
- Solicitation of prostitution, a state jail felony
Hill was initially arrested on Saturday, July 11. He was booked into the Lavaca County Jail and was later transferred to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Jail the same day.
The sheriff’s office said Hill bonded out on July 12 on the condition that he report to the Lavaca County Community Supervision and Corrections Department within 72 hours for a GPS ankle monitor.
On July 15, he failed to report for his ankle monitor fitting session, the news release said.
Additionally, Hill did not “appear in district court, where he was scheduled to represent clients” as a criminal defense attorney. The sheriff’s office stated an attorney’s arrest does not automatically prohibit that attorney from continuing to practice law.
An arrest warrant was issued by the original Lavaca County magistrate judge based on Hill not showing up for the ankle monitor session and “additional investigative information.” The sheriff’s office said authorities believed he was actively avoiding contact with law enforcement and deemed Hill a fugitive.
“Although Mr. Hill was considered a fugitive during this period, law enforcement intentionally did not publicly announce the search,” the sheriff’s office said. “While we cannot disclose all operational considerations, we can state that investigators had no reason to believe the general public was in immediate danger.”
On July 16, Hill was formally charged with the sex crimes, according to the news release.
The Victoria division of the U.S. Marshals Service assisted the investigation and located Hill in Gonzales County, the news release said. Marshals “attempted to safely take Hill into custody and provided him the opportunity to surrender peacefully.”
After they communicated with Hill, the sheriff’s office said he fatally shot himself.
Hill was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said no law enforcement members were injured.
The Texas Rangers are investigating Hill’s death, according to the news release.
“This investigation did not end with Mr. Hill’s death. Our investigators, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue every credible lead, identify any additional victims, and thoroughly investigate the full extent of the alleged criminal conduct brought to our attention,” Lavaca Sheriff Steven E. Greenwell said in the news release. We are equally committed to determining whether any other individuals knowingly participated in or facilitated Mr. Hill’s criminal activity and will seek accountability wherever the evidence leads.”
Authorities are asking anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact the Texas Rangers or the Lavaca County Crime Stoppers website or Facebook page.
The LCSO Criminal Investigation Division can also be reached at 361-217-6753. Callers may remain anonymous.
Read also:
