Victim wants charges dropped in attack with baseball bat
Post-Tribune staff report August 1, 2012 4:04PM
Updated: August 1, 2012 10:42PM
A Gary woman charged with attempted murder in a baseball attack on the father of her two young children has been released on a reduced bail after the victim said he wanted the charges dropped.
Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez reduced bail from $100,000 to $18,000, or $1,800 cash, for Annie Anita Hillard, 38, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, robbery, carjacking and battery charges in the July 25 assault in Lake Station.
Vasquez agreed to the reduction after the victim, Stewart Foley IV, testified he wanted charges dropped against Hillard and her two teenage sons.
Foley was one of two witnesses called to testify by defense attorney Thomas Vanes. Foley said he and Hillard have two children, ages 3 and 2.
Deputy prosecutor Kathleen O’Halloran questioned Foley, who acknowledged he had not been taking medicine prescribed for schizophrenia when the assault occurred on July 25 outside his home in Lake Station. “I know I was jumped on. I really don’t know what happened. I know I woke up in the hospital,” Foley said.
Vanes told the judge that Hillard’s sons, Kenneth Coleman, 16, and Ronte Asahn Terrell, 19, were planning to surrender Wednesday. They are charged with the same offenses.
Hillard’s mother, Mary L. Hillard of Merrillville, said she will use real estate she owns as surety for bail once the teens are in custody.
Court records indicate Hillard lured Foley outside, where he was struck with a baseball bat by Terrell, and Coleman held him on the ground while Hillard struck him. The assault left Foley unconscious for several hours. When he awoke, his car and other items were missing.
Hillard has no criminal record and has lived in Lake County her whole life.
