A West Point man who was sentenced to 105 years in prison last year for the 2016 assault of two college students in the Cotton District has had five years tacked onto his sentence for his failed attempt to escape from jail.
Terry Hill, 44, escaped the Oktibbeha County Jail on Aug. 10, 2017–just over a week after 16th Circuit Judge Lee Coleman sentenced Hill to a combined 105 years in prison for robbery, two counts of kidnapping and sexual battery.
Hill’s escape was short-lived, as after escaping the jail at about 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, law enforcement officers found him in Chickasaw County at about 6:15 a.m. Aug. 11.
On Thursday, Hill appeared in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court for indictment on his escape charge, according to Mississippi 16th Circuit Assistant District Attorney Trina Davidson-Brooks. After being served with his indictment, he pleaded guilty and received a five-year sentence to run consecutively with his 105-year sentence from the Cotton District assault case.
Hill and Jerry Lee Talley, Jr., of McCool, broke into the Cotton District home of a Mississippi State University student on May 20, 2016, according to victim testimony in Hill’s trial. Hill sexually assaulted a female victim, and attacked and bound a male victim.
An Oktibbeha County jury convicted Hill on all counts on Aug. 3, 2017. Coleman sentenced him to 15 years for the robbery charge and 30 years each for the sexual battery and kidnapping charges.
Talley, who is also charged with robbery, kidnapping and sexual battery, is still awaiting trial.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.