Jury Finds Hills Guilty of Trafficking Cocaine, Other Crimes

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Leephor Hills guilty of Trafficking in Cocaine, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, and Resisting an Officer without Violence to His or Her Person. With the verdict, Hills faces up to 35 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Jeb Branham will sentence Hills on a future date.

On Oct. 2, 2021, an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office witnessed Hills swerving lanes while driving west on 25^th Street from Division Street. The officer attempted to pull Hills over for a traffic stop, but Hills did not stop his vehicle. Eventually, Hills pulled into a driveway on Nancy Street, exited the vehicle, then ran from the officer. Officers chased Hills through backyards until one was able to stop him by deploying a Conducted Electronic Weapon, which struck him in the back. Officers detained Hills and collected his black drawstring bag as evidence, which they discovered had a trafficking amount of cocaine in it.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Doug Baer and Loana Nardoni.