Continuance ordered in domestic-violence case against Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill

The domestic-violence charge against Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill will be dismissed if he complies with the court's stipulations for the next 18 months.

Hill, 27, entered into a stipulated-order of continuance at Issaquah Municipal Court at a hearing Wednesday. The continuance avoids a trial that could have begun as early as next week on a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree assault/domestic violence stemming from an April arrest at his home in Issaquah.

According to Lynn Moberly, the prosecutor in this case, Hill will be on court probation for the next 18 months. He must complete a one-year state-certified domestic-violence treatment program. He is to have no law violations and possess no weapons the next 18 months.

If Hill complies with those conditions, the case will be dismissed and will not be on his record. If Hill does not comply with the terms, he will be considered guilty of the fourth-degree assault charge.

Hill was arrested after an altercation with his live-in girlfriend. One of the responding officers observed injuries on the victim, which she said were caused by Hill.

The victim previously stopped responding to attempts by the prosecutor and police to contact her until a material-witness warrant was granted the final week of July. At that point, she turned herself in.

Another term of the continuance is that Hill was ordered to have no contact with the victim — except by phone — until after he enters the domestic-violence treatment program.

Hill is entering his sixth year with the Seahawks. A starter the past five years, he has been with the Seahawks' second team after missing much of the offseason training. He suffered a knee injury during the second week of training camp, which will keep him out a couple of weeks.

"Leroy wished to resolve this case without trial and without disrupting his team," said Jon Scott Fox, Hill's attorney, in a statement. "He will remain in compliance with the agreement and with this case now resolved, he will focus solely on football."

Hill has already been suspended for the regular-season opener for violating the league's policy on substance abuse. That stemmed from a guilty plea in Georgia to a charge of misdemeanor drug possession.

It's possible Hill could face further discipline from the league even though Wednesday's continuance does not constitute a conviction. In 2008, Rocky Bernard, then a Seahawks defensive tackle, was suspended for one game after entering into a two-year continuance on a similar charge in Seattle.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com