Published on Tuesday, February 6, 2007
in the Highlands Today

Grand Jury Indicts Altersberger

SEBRING — A Highlands County grand jury handed down first-degree murder charges Monday against the 19-year-old Sebring suspect charged with last month’s shooting death of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper on U.S. 27 north of Lake Placid.

A 21-member grand jury formally indicted Joshua Lee Altersberger on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent in the killing of Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Sottile on Jan. 12.

State attorneys have already said they intend to seek the death penalty against Altersberger.

Highlands County Court Services Director Bob Germaine said last month that more populated areas usually have grand juries established at all times because of higher crime rates.

Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin said last month that any trial involving the suspect might be at least two years away.

Houchin said Highlands County usually averages one murder per year.

He also said setting a trial date will take longer than any usual criminal trial, given the capitol murder charges.

Background

Altersberger is charged with first-degree murder in the death of FHP Sgt. Nicholas Sottile, 48.

Sottile stopped a 2003 Toyota Camry on northbound U.S. 27 last month for a traffic violation. According to an FHP report, Altersberger’s passenger, Quintin Jerome Kinder, 21, then fled into a nearby orange grove.

Kinder is a Georgia resident.

The FHP said Altersberger then shot Sottile in the chest and fled in his vehicle, later located in a Sebring orange grove.

Law enforcement officers found and arrested Altersberger early the next morning. Kinder was charged with trespassing in a cultivated grove after surrendering without incident, also on Saturday morning.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, Altersberger had been arrested two years ago and charged with battery, aggravated assault with a weapon and cocaine possession.

The two suspects have been ordered held without bond and are currently being held separately from each other and other inmates in the Highlands County Jail, Germaine said.

It was the first grand jury proceeding held in Highlands County in two years.