A Madison County high school teacher is no longer in jail, after he bonded out Friday. It’s his second arrest following another claim of sexual abuse at the school.
Because it’s still an ongoing investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still asking anyone with information to come forward involving the case of Geoffrey Hill.
The high school band instructor was first arrested in mid-May, after a male came forward with sexual abuse allegations. Officials would not confirm if that person was a student or not. Later, FDLE Spokeswoman Samantha Andrews says another person came forward and Hill was rearrested last week.
“On May 22, FDLE agents arrested Geoffrey Walter Hill on additional count of sexual battery by a person in custodial authority. Following Hill’s May 14 arrest, another victim contacted FDLE agents with allegations of sexual abuse. Those allegations are what resulted in the additional arrest,” said Andrews.
Hill’s bond was originally set at $500,000, but a judge reduced his bond to $75,000. And, Lucas Taylor, Hill’s attorney, says he was released on Friday. Taylor says his client is now looking forward to proving his innocence.
“I can tell you that as Mr. Hill’s attorney, he absolutely disputes the truth of the accusations that have been made against him completely and totally, and he looks forward to litigating this matter in front of a Madison County jury at the appropriate time,” said Taylor.
According to the Live Oak State Attorney’s office, which is prosecuting the case, an arraignment hearing could take place in the next few weeks, where Hill enters a plea of guilty or not guilty. Meanwhile, Hill remains suspended with pay from his position at Madison County high school.
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