Three Former Corrections Officers Arrested for Assault of Inmate

Three former Illinois Corrections officers were arrested Thursday in connection with the 2018 death of an inmate at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling.

The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Central District of Illinois announced Friday the arrests of 51 year old Todd Sheffler of Mendon, 41 year old Willie Hedden of Mt. Sterling and 28 year old Alex Banta of Quincy.

According to the indictment, on May 17th, 2018, the three officers assaulted 65 year old inmate Larry Earvin, who was restrained, during an escort to another housing unit.

Earvin suffered several broken ribs, a punctured colon and serious internal injuries. He died about a month after the attack.

Sheffler, Hedden and Banta are each charged with conspiracy to deprive civil rights, deprivation of civil rights, conspiracy to obstruct justice, falsification of document and misleading conduct. Hedden is also charged with destruction of a record or other object.

The three made their initial court appearance Friday in federal court in Springfield.