First of three guards sentenced to 20 years in prisoner death
Ben Singson, Reporter
March 16, 2023Updated: March 16, 2023 2:24 p.m.
The first of three Western Illinois Correctional Center guards indicted in connection with the fatal beating of a prisoner was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.
File imageThe first of three Western Illinois Correctional Center guards indicted in connection with the fatal beating of a prisoner was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.
Former Corrections Officer Alex Banta, 31, of Quincy will also be under supervised release for five years after his sentence is served for his role in the 2018 beating death of prisoner Larry Earvin at the Mount Sterling prison.
Banta was convicted April 25 of federal charges of conspiracy to deprive civil rights, deprivation of civil rights, obstruction of an investigation, falsification of documents and misleading conduct.
Testimony said Banta and former Sgt. Willie Hedden escorted Earvin to a segregated part of the prison after Earvin became belligerent and refused to return to his cell, with former Lt. Todd Sheffler joining the two shortly after. The three began beating Earvin minutes after entering a part of the prison that lacked cameras, with Banta jumping on top of Earvin’s chest with his knees.
Earvin, 68 and just months away from release, was hospitalized with hemorrhages, lacerations, dozens of abrasions, a torn aorta, 15 rib fractures and abdominal injuries that required surgical removal of a portion of his bowel. He died five weeks later of his injuries. Hedden testified at the sentencing that the use of violence against belligerent prisoners was part of “the culture” of Western Illinois Correctional Center.
The prosecution, representing the federal government, recommended to Judge Sue Myerscough that Banta be sentenced to life in prison, which the defense argued would be excessive for Banta’s crimes.
Sheffler was convicted on similar federal charges in August and will be sentenced Monday. Hedden pleaded guilty to civil rights charges and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday.
