He was predeceased by : his parents, Benjamin Edward and Dottie Pearl . The charges were investigated by agents of the FBI-Springfield Division and the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation with the cooperation of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Former corrections officers Todd Sheffler of Mendon, Willie Hedden of Mount Sterling and Alex Banta of Quincy will go on trial April 6. Those responsible for the deadly assault of Mr. Earvin must be held accountable. Milhiser commended the Illinois Department of Corrections for its cooperation and the FBI and Illinois State Police for their thorough investigation of this tragic incident. Search Search. Employees in Heddens position typically face a Corrections Department discharge hearing, the results of which must approved by the states personnel agency, the Department of Central Management Services. QUINCY Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, of 2528 Kentucky Road, was found dead Thursday afternoon by a family member who went QUINCY Adam Yates, chief of the Quincy Police Department, said hes making no apologies for being tight-lipped about the QUINCY Quincy police officers responded to a report of a fatality at a house in the 2500 block of QUINCY A man on a motorcycle was killed Sunday night when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on Thursday, Feb. 23 against Kelsey Hickman, 31, of Quincy, Ill. Jury selection begins Wednesday in trial of former correctional guards charged with 2018 death of inmate in Mount Sterling prison, DAILY MUDDY: Processing the process and get ready to run at Kelly's, Quincy woman dead, case being treated as a homicide, We have only one chance to get it right: Yates asks for patience as Bliefnick investigation continues, Motorcyclist killed Sunday night after collision with pickup truck at 12th and Park Place, Federal jury finds Quincy woman guilty of meth, firearm charges. Before Earvins death, an independent prison watchdog group had flagged major concerns with staff conduct at the Western Illinois prison. The indictment alleged that on May 17, 2018, Hedden, Sheffler and Banta were forcibly moving Earvin from residential housing to the Mount Sterling prisons segregation unit when they beat him, without justification, while he was handcuffed behind his back and posed no threat. Hedden, 43, of Mount Sterling, testified during the four-week trial that he, Sheffler and Banta punched, kicked, stomped and jumped on Earvin in the vestibule of Western's segregation unit,. The victim, identified as Larry Earvin, 65, of Chicago, suffered multiple broken ribs, a punctured colon, and other serious internal injuries, and died in June 2018. They face charges of conspiracy to deprive civil rights, deprivation of civil rights, conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct, obstruction/falsification of documents, and obstruction of misleading conduct. Hedden also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct for falsifying incident reports with the prison that left out references to the assault. The report also said some prisoners said guards were discriminatory toward the elderly and disabled and used racist language. Sheffler and Banta have pleaded not guilty, and their trial has been scheduled for June 28. MOUNT STERLING Three former correctional officers from Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling who are facing charges in the death of an inmate will not face trial until August after the court on Tuesday approved their motions to continue. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A state prison guard on Tuesday pleaded guilty to federal felony charges related to the 2018 beating death of an inmate at Western Illinois Correctional Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass indicated during Tuesdays hearing conducted by video conference that Hedden has agreed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation, in which two of Heddens Illinois Department of Corrections colleagues face similar charges. . The corrections officers were indicted in December 2019. According to the indictment, on May 17, 2018, Sheffler, Hedden, and Banta participated in the forcible escort of Earvin from his residential unit to the segregation housing unit. He also pled guilty to conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct, admitting he filed falsified incident reports with the prison that omitted reference to the assault and noted that Earvin was delivered to staff in the segregation housing unit without further incident, other than resisting the escort and refusing to walk. A status conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. This course is a requirement for all new employees.. Inmate Larry Earvin, who was 65 years old, was an inmate at WICC and would have been eligible for parole in September 2018. Official websites use .gov For each count of conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct and obstruction, the maximum statutory penalty is up to 20 years in prison. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. A lock ( Quincy, IL 62301, Copyright 2023 Muddy River News All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy. Willie Hedden is one of three guards at the Western Illinois Correctional Center charged in the May 2018 assault of Larry Earvin, who was handcuffed at the time. Sterling, Illinois. The charges Hedden faced were conspiracy to deprive civil rights, deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and death and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct. William Hedden in Illinois. Mt. Mount Sterling, IL View Full Report Phone Numbers: (217) 725-5592, (217) 773-3857 Address History: 301 Grove Street, Mount Sterling, IL 62353; 606 S Capitol Avenue, Mount Sterling, IL 62353 Relatives: Brian Hedden, Deborah Hedden, Jason Hedden, Willie Hedden, Brooke Reische Age: 57 Bruce Allen Hedden Grapevine, AR View Full Report A 2017 report from the John Howard Association said several inmates reported that correctional officers who assault inmates wrongly accused the inmate of resisting to justify use of force. . A prison assault took his life; three charged in aftermath soon facing trial, Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. Earvin lived with schizophrenia, according to his family, and was homeless at the time of his arrest. By John O'Connor. An indictment filed Dec. 4, 2019, says Sheffler, Banta and Willie Hedden, employees at the WICC, conspired and agreed on May 17, 2018, to forcibly remove Larry Earvin, 65, of Chicago from his housing unit to segregation a unit where prisoners are sent for discipline. Sterling and she survives. The incidents usually started with a conflict between a guard and prisoner, and, as a result, the prisoner was sent to segregation for discipline. The trial of two former Illinois correctional officers accused of beating a 65-year-old inmate to death begins Monday in Springfield. Defendant Banta shall give prompt notice to his probation officer of the date, times, and locations of his travel into Missouri. Hedden remains employed, but is suspended. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A sergeant at Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. At the time of the alleged crimes, Sheffler was a lieutenant at Western Illinois Correctional Center (WICC); Hedden was a sergeant, and, Banta was a correctional officer, subordinate to Sheffler and Hedden. Willie Hedden is one of three guards at the Western Illinois Correctional Center charged in the May 2018 assault of Larry Earvin, who was handcuffed at the time. Illinois Prison Guard Pleads Guilty for Role in Beating Inmate to Death, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/09/us/illinois-prison-guard-civil-rights.html. Sterling, Illinois passed away at 12:37 a.m. Sunday, July 5, 2020 at her residence. Willie Hedden of Mount Sterling pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deprive civil rights, deprivation of civil rights and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct in connection with the death of inmate Larry Earvin, 65, of Chicago. They said he was handcuffed and restrained when he was beaten and posed no threat to the guards. Federal prosecutors said they intend to drop two other charges against Hedden. Authorities said Hedden persuaded a friend to delete a text message in which Hedden admitted to being involved in the assault of Earvin. Mills scheduled Heddens sentencing for July 21, though he agreed to consider Bass request to delay sentencing until after Sheffler and Bantas trial. Surgery to remove a portion of his bowel followed the injury. For each count of obstruction, the maximum statutory penalty is up to 20 years in prison. Hedden, 42, of Mt. They included Sgt. Do you want to receive the Muddy River News newsletter in your inbox every morning? Jason William Hedden, 34, of Quincy, formerly of Mount Sterling, died at 10:15 a.m. Sunday (Dec. 7, 2008) in his residence in Quincy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass told the Associated Press in March 2021 that Hedden has agreed to cooperate in the investigation against Sheffler and Banta. She leaves behind a complex legacy. The death of a Springfield woman in 2015 is a motivating factor behind one legislators desire to Police, fire and other public safety reports from Jacksonville and the surrounding area. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the indictment. . ", The people of Illinois must have confidence in the constitutional integrity of the criminal justice system from the streets, to the courthouse, to corrections, stated ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. Willie Hedden of Mount Sterling pleaded guilty . In addition, the indictment alleges that Sheffler, Hedden and Banta knowingly misled agents of the Illinois State Police during individual interviews by falsely denying any knowledge of the assault of Earvin that they participated in and witnessed. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Willie Hedden of Mt. All employees charged in this case were placed on leave. The indictment, returned by the grand jury this week, remained sealed pending the defendants arrest and court appearance. Hedden, 43, of Mount Sterling pled guilty in March 2021 to conspiracy to deprive civil rights and deprivation of civil rights. The use of excessive force violates that obligation and will in no way be tolerated. He was taken to the ground, handcuffed and hit and kicked by guards who sent out an alert for assistance, a call that summoned 28 officers including Banta and Sgt. The three men then assaulted Earvin without legal justification while he was restrained and handcuffed behind his back. Reports also claim the officers failed to protect Earvin, falsified reports, lied to investigators and prevented the communication of individuals to law enforcement officials throughout the course of the investigation. Hedden also admitted he misled agents of the Illinois State Police by denying any knowledge of the assault, that he participated in and witnessed, and that he persuaded a fellow prison employee to delete a text message Hedden sent after the assault in which Hedden admitted his involvement in the assault on Earvin. Sterling, Ill., Willie Hedden, today entered pleas of guilty to charges related to his role in the May 2018 assault of an inmate who died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault. According to court documents, a jury trial is now scheduled to begin November 3, 2021 for Alex Banta, of Quincy, and Todd Sheffler, of Mendon. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Mr. Carroll E. Hedden, 87, of Swansea, Ill., and formerly of Mt. Officer - Illinois Dept. Willie Hedden, 42, of Mount Sterling, entered the plea to two counts of civil rights violations and one count of providing misleading information in the subsequent investigation of the May. 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