Date: 03-10-2021

Case Style:

Case Number: 3:19-cr-30067-RM-TSH

Judge: Richard Mills

Court: United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois (Sangamon County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:

Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory

Description: Springfield, Illinois deprivation of civil rights criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Willie Hedden, who was charged for his role in the May 2018 assault of an inmate who died as a result of the injuries sustained in the assault.

Hedden, 42, of Mt. Sterling, Ill., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deprive civil rights and deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and death for his participation in the May 17, 2018, assault of an inmate who was restrained and handcuffed behind his back and posed no physical threat to Hedden or others. 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. The assault occurred as Earvin was forcibly escorted from his residential unit at the prison to a separate, segregated housing unit.

In addition, Hedden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct. Hedden admitted that 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. Further, Hedden admitted that 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 friend, a fellow prison employee, to delete a text message Hedden sent following the assault in which Hedden admitted his involvement in the assault on Earvin.

This afternoon, the court held a status hearing by videoconference for co-defendants Todd Sheffler, 52, of Mendon, Ill., and Alex Banta, 29, of Quincy, Ill. The court scheduled trial for Sheffler and Banta on June 28, 2021. Sheffler and Banta are each charged with conspiracy to deprive civil rights and deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and death, conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct, and two counts of obstruction of justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass represents the government in the prosecution. 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.

The statutory sentence for both conspiracy to deprive civil rights and deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and death is any term of imprisonment up to life. For each count of conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct and obstruction, the maximum statutory penalty is up to 20 years in prison.

18:241.F: CONSPIRACY AGAINST RIGHTS - On or about May 17, 2018, in Brown County, the Defendant did willfully conspire to deprive an individual of civil rights in violation of 18:241 and 2.
(1)
18:242.F: DEPRIVE CIVIL RIGHTS - On or about May 17, 2018, in Brown County, the Defendant did willfully deprive an individual of civil rights in violation of 18:242 and 2.
(2)
18:1512K.F: TAMPERING WITH WITNESS, VICTIM, OR AN INFORMANT - From on or about May 17, 2018, and continuing until on or about May 22, 2018, the Defendant did conspire to engage in misleading conduct in violation of 18:1512(k) and 1512(b)(3).
(3)
18:1519.F: DESTRUCTION, ALTERATION OR FALSIFICATION OF RECORDS IN FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS - On or about May 17, 2018, in Brown County, the Defendant knowingly falsified a document in violation of 18:1519.
(4)
18:1512B.F: INTIMIDATION OR FORCE AGAINST WITNESS - On or about May 18, 2018, in Brown County, the Defendant knowingly engaged in misleading conduct toward another person in violation of 18:1512(b)(3).
(5)

Outcome: Defendant pleaded guilty.

TEXT ORDER by U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins. Defendant Alex Banta's Motion to Modify Bond Conditions to Permit Travel for Employment Purposes into Missouri Within a Thirty-Mile Radius of Quincy, Illinois 63 is ALLOWED. The Government has no objections. The Court hereby modifies Defendant Banta's conditions of release to permit Defendant Banta to travel for employment purposes with Andrew Likes Construction into Missouri, but no farther than a thirty-mile radius from Quincy, Illinois. Defendant Banta shall give prompt notice to his probation officer of the date, times, and locations of his travel into Missouri. The Probation Office is directed to prepare an amended Order Setting Conditions of Release for Defendant Banta that is consistent with this Text Order. Entered by Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins on 3/9/2021. (MAS) (Entered: 03/09/2021)

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