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In a 7/25/18 appearance before the Herkimer Village Court, 18 year-old Shianne Hill pleaded guilty to 3rd Degree Assault. On 5/18/18, Hill, a former Herkimer High School varsity athlete, stalked and attacked her 63 year-old neighbor, Herkimerpost editor Linda Kaidan, punching her in the eye. Kaidan suffered laceration, contusions and aggravation to osteoporosis of her neck. Hill’s attack had all the hallmarks of anabolic steroid abuse.
Shianne Hill Entered a Very Reluctant Guilty Plea
Despite the direct evidence of the videos of her attack, Hill seemed reluctant to plead guilty. She had previously entered a Not Guilty Plea in her June court appearance.
Hill apparently agreed with her foster mother Joyce Barton’s assertion to Herkimer police the day of the assault that Kaidan was trespassing by standing on the public sidewalk in front of the Barton’s house, and that her attack constituted self-defense.
Only after further consultation with her public defender and Joyce Barton did Hill reluctantly enter a guilty plea. She was sentenced to a year’s probation.
Order of Protection Extended
Hill had previously been served with an Order of Protection enjoining her from approaching Kaidan. Magistrate Thomas DeCarlo extended the Order of Protection to two years. Hill lives with the Bartons at 333 Pleasant Avenue, across from Kaidan’s home.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Herkimer Police, notably Sgt Bowman and the officers who responded to the assault on 5/18–they diligently followed through to secure statements and evidence.
As far as we know, this is the first ever arrest of one of the extended family members who comprise the Joyce Barton gang, which long terrorized Herkimer’s Pleasant Avenue. We hope to see more of the same.
We’d also like to acknowledged the support of the Herkimer County District Attorney’s Office, especially Victim’s Services Coordinator Connie M. Stowell, and the excellent staff of the Little Falls Hospital Emergency Room.
Curtis Cool – Man on the Run?
While in court for Shianne Hill’s last appearance, a familiar name was called: Curtis Cool, a longtime associate of Joyce Barton. He failed to enter an appearance. We assume a bench warrant will issue for Curtis. Readers of this blog may recall Curtis’ hugely popular criminal harassment antics from when he was our neighbor. Happily, his old rental at 328 Pleasant Avenue was sold for a good price last month. We wish the new owners well.
