Polk attorney tapped in judge inquiry

The governor's order gives Polk County's State Attorney Jerry Hill up to a year to investigate a dispute between two circuit judges in Hillsborough.

By GRAHAM BRINK

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2000

TAMPA -- Jerry Hill, state attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Polk County, will make the decision on whether to file charges against a Hillsborough judge found after hours in another judge's office.

Hillsborough State Attorney Jack Rudy asked Gov. Jeb Bush last week to assign an independent prosecutor to avoid any perceived bias, since Rudy and his attorneys know both Circuit Judges Gregory Holder and Robert Bonanno.

Hill said he received the call Tuesday and has yet to see the investigative file or talk with any of the investigators, something he hopes to begin doing today. He hasn't ruled out bringing in his own investigators to take another look at the case, but added that he would likely rely on the findings from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"Right now, I don't know enough to say much about the time frame or how things will go," Hill said. "We'll get on it as soon as possible."

Hill, 53, a Stetson University College of Law graduate, has served as an independent prosecutor for every governor since he first became Polk's state attorney in 1984. He ran unopposed in 1988, 1992 and 1996 and has no opponent this year.

Hill is past president of the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association. Before becoming state attorney, Hill spent fours years as public defender for the 10th Judicial Circuit, which includes Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.

The governor's order gives Hill a year, although those involved think the decision will come much sooner.

"Jerry's very well qualified. I think he'll do an excellent job," said Chief Judge Dennis Alvarez. "I don't want him to rush it, but I hope he brings it to a close very soon, one way or another."

Holder's regular bailiff, sheriff's Deputy Sylvia Gay, said she came across Bonanno in Holder's office at 5:20 p.m. July 27.

Gay said she saw a shadow on the wall, called out twice and no one responded. A couple of seconds passed before Bonanno walked out. She wrote that Bonanno appeared to be "trying (to) conceal himself from me."

Holder said most of his colleagues knew he was in Virginia that week for Air Force Reserve training. Holder called Bonanno's behavior "hostile" and "highly unprofessional" and asked for an investigation. The incident occurred amid growing paranoia at the courthouse stemming from several investigations into other judges.

Bonanno has said he did nothing wrong, and was simply looking for Holder. Bonanno walked in through an unlocked door, said his attorney Ralph Fernandez, and was not "skulking around in the dark."

"I'm confident Mr. Hill will come to the conclusion that there was no criminal behavior," Fernandez said. "It was a misunderstanding that needs to be resolved."

Holder said he knows Hill has done a thorough job with previous assignments and was pleased with the governor's selection.

"I think it's important that the process be concluded in a fair and impartial manner," Holder said.

The state's Judicial Qualifications Commission, the agency that regulates judges, is also investigating.

- Times staff writer Sue Carlton contributed to this report. Graham Brink can be reached at (813) 226-3365 or brink@sptimes.com.

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