Man With Long Record, Suspected of Rape, Due Back in Court

A 33-year-old Middletown man, being held on bond for the suspected August sexual attack of a woman, is due in superior court Thursday and expected to enter a plea.

On Aug. 19 at 7:14 a.m., James Hill, who is represented by a public defender, attacked a woman at his Spring Street home, according to Middletown Police.
Early that morning, the victim said in a police report, Hill picked her up from police headquarters after she was arrested.

They walked home at 5 a.m. and went to sleep, the woman said, who shortly afterward was awoken to Hill climbing into bed with her. The report says she screamed "no" and "stop" and struggled with Hill, who punched her in the face and choked her.

That's when Hill allegedly tried to rape her but "finally gave up," the report indicates, put his clothes on and yelled for her to leave the apartment, police say.

The victim knocked on neighbors' doors for help and was able to finally call police, the report indicates.

Hill was charged with interfering with an emergency call, felony first-degree attempting to commit aggravated sexual assault, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree reckless endangerment, felony second-degree strangulation, disorderly conduct and felony third-degree sexual assault.

Hill faced a disorderly conduct charge after he allegedly forced entry into a home at Spring and Pearl streets by smashing a glass door, the report says.

The caller, police say, heard a woman and children screaming. Once on scene, officers saw a smashed door and blood on the floor, the report says, and an 11-year-old child came running downstairs saying the man was upstairs, as did a 14-year-old.

Upstairs, the report says, was a woman who refused to tell officers what was happening and swore at them, along with Hill, who was highly intoxicated with blood on his shirt and hands.

The report said he and the victim were dating and the daughter locked him out of the house after he and the mother began fighting. Hill was found with an outstanding warrant from New Britain for violation of a protective order.

According to court records, Hill has convictions for disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, assaults, threatening and violation of probation.