Published on Wednesday, February 7, 2007
in the Gainesville Sun

Grand jury indicts man in slaying of state trooper

SEBRING — A Highlands County grand jury has indicted a man on charges of first-degree murder for the shooting death of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

Joshua Lee Altersberger, 19, of Sebring, was charged Monday with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent in the killing of Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Sottile on Jan. 12.

Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty against Altersberger, Highlands Today reported.

Sottile, 48, observed Altersberger driving erratically and pulled him over. As Sottile approached the vehicle, the passenger, Quintin Jerome Kinder, 21, fled on foot to a nearby orange grove, authorities said.

Sottile went back to his patrol car to call for backup and then began walking toward the suspects' car when Altersberger shot him in the chest, authorities said.

Altersberger fled; Sottile was flown to Florida Hospital Lake Placid and pronounced dead. The suspects' vehicle was later found in an orange grove in Sebring.

Kinder was charged with trespassing in a cultivated grove after surrendering without incident.

Both suspects were ordered held without bail and remain in the Highlands County jail.