Dane County Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts on Man Charged with Stalking and Extortion of An Assistant City Attorney

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that James D. Hills, of Madison, was found guilty of stalking and extortion by a Dane County jury yesterday evening.

After the jury verdicts were submitted, and upon motion of the State, Judge Stephen E. Ehlke entered judgments and findings of guilt as to both felony charges.

At trial, the State proved that Hills became enraged after being convicted of a non-criminal municipal ticket. For the next 10 months, Hills engaged in stalking the assistant city attorney who prosecuted the ticket by directing a barrage of hostile, profane, and threatening communications at her. Hills also threatened to harm the assistant city attorney unless she complied with a list of demands that included an apology letter, getting his case dismissed and paying him $429.00.

A sentencing hearing is expected to take place within the next 30 days. At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum combined penalty of nine years and six months of imprisonment and a fine of $20,000.

The case was investigated by the City of Madison Police Department. Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 950 crime victim services were provided by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Victim Services. Assistant Attorney General Eric D. Défort represented the State.