×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Three Illinois Guards Indicted for Fatally Beating Prisoner
Loaded on July 1, 2021
published in Prison Legal News
July, 2021, page 56
Three Illinois prison guards have been fired and indicted on federal charges for the fatal beating of a handcuffed prisoner. On May 17, 2018, Western Illinois Correctional center guards Lt. Todd Sheffler, 51, Sgt. Willie Hedden, 41, and Alex Banta, 28, were escorting prisoner Larry Earvin, 65, from a …
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- “Progressive” Seattle Mayoral Candidate Exposed as Shill for the Private Prison Industry, by Ken Silverstein
- The Contraband Wars Prison authorities target books and mail, miss the goods coming through the staff door, by Christopher Zoukis
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Course of the Covid Pandemic, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
- Inmate Magazine Service Advertising Results in FTC Complaint, by David Reutter
- Ohio County Executive and Underlings Under Investigation for Jail Corruption and Deaths, by Edward Lyon
- Coronavirus Lockdowns in Prisons Test Limits of Colorado’s Rules on Solitary Confinement, by John Herrick
- Guard “Justified” in Shooting Death of Elderly Woman in Spokane County Jail Lobby, by Kevin Bliss
- After DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions for Mentally Ill Prisoners in Solitary, Massachusetts Experiments with Monitoring Gadget, by Kevin Bliss, Keith Sanders
- Wisconsin Prisoner In Vegetative State After Suicide Attempt Wins New Trial on Jury Instruction Error, by David M. Reutter
- Illinois Prisoner’s Negligence Lawsuit Alleging Injuries from Wart Treatment Timely Filed, by David M. Reutter
- District Court Certifies Class Status in Louisville Jail Overdetention of Prisoners’ Suit, by Douglas Ankney
- Eleventh Circuit Upholds Some Convictions of Four Georgia Prison Guards for Drug Smuggling; Reverses Others for Retrial, by Matthew Clarke
- Law Review States Prisons Better Off With Public Health Care Rather than Private, by Kevin Bliss
- $6.2 Million Judgment for California Deputies Negligence Causing Arrestee Injuries Affirmed, by David Reutter
- U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Dismissal of Texas Prisoner’s Feces Covered Cell Lawsuit, by David Reutter
- Incarcerated Persons Not In-Custody for Miranda Purposes
- Woman Abuse Survivors Sent to Prison for Self-Defense, by Keith Sanders
- Inspector General Finds Botched Transfers Caused COVID Outbreak at San Quentin, 29 Dead, by Matthew Clarke
- North Carolina Prisons Underreport COVID Related Deaths, by Kevin Bliss
- New Jersey Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak Kept Quiet in State Prisons, by Akela Lacy
- GAO Reports ICE Wastes Hundreds of Millions Each Year, by Matthew Clarke
- The Enduring Life of Life Sentences, by Casey Bastian
- Federal Court Orders Release of Documents for Connecticut Prison Cancer Death, by David Reutter
- Virginia Votes to Abolish Death Penalty, by Jayson Hawkins
- Second Circuit Holds Connecticut Can’t Indemnify Guard in Assault Case Then Seek Cost of Incarceration; $650,000 Awarded in Failure to Protect Case, by David Reutter
- Georgia Sheriffs Entitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity When Setting Jail Policies That Lead to Prisoners Being Sexually Abused, by David Reutter
- Architects Question Whether Building “More Humane” Prisons is Possible, by Daniel A. Rosen
- $54,000 Award of Attorney Fees to Enforce Settlement Agreement on Behalf of Deaf Prisoners, by David Reutter
- En Banc Eleventh Circuit Holds Prisoners Can Seek Punitive Damages Without Physical Injury, by David Reutter
- Sixth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Retaliation Suit by Pro Se Michigan Prisoner, by David Reutter
- Maine Supreme Judicial Court Holds Courts Have Authority to Enjoin DOC from Unconstitutional Segregation Practices, by Matthew Clarke
- From a Picture Grew Thousands of Words, by Edward Lyon
- $200,000 Settlement for Kentucky Woman in Jail Childbirth Suit, by Matthew Clarke
- Advancing Stage of HCV Triggers Imminent Danger Exception to PLRA Three Strikes Rule
- Maine Prisons Expand Medication Assisted Treatment, by David Reutter
- Oregon Federal Court Issues Class Certification in HRDC Challenge to NUMI Release Debit Cards, by David Reutter
- When Prisoners Die, Hawaii Keeps it Secret, by Edward Lyon
- Three Illinois Guards Indicted for Fatally Beating Prisoner
- Majority of Americans Now Favor Life Imprisonment Over Death Penalty, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Transfer Lawsuit by Suicidal Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Iowa Jails Lower Phone Rates But Not Far Enough, by David Reutter
- Colorado Supreme Court Holds Prisoners Entitled to Preliminary Hearing on New Charges, by Matthew Clarke
- After Backlash, Tennessee State University President Reverses Decision to Join CoreCivic Board, by Matthew Clarke
- “We Want Court dates!”, by Keith Sanders
- News in Brief
More from these topics:
- Atlanta Jail Boasts Improvements Since Consent Decree, Reports from Monitor and ACLU Are More Critical, May 1, 2026. Staffing, Sanitation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Consent Decrees, Bail/Pretrial Release.
- Taser Use Doubled After Grand Jury Report on Pennsylvania Prisoner’s Death, May 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Stun Guns/Tasers, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Staff Training.
- Six Maryland Guards Convicted in Prisoner’s Beating, Cover-up; § 1983 Suit Filed, May 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Obstruction of Justice, Wrongful Use of Force, Evidence - Destruction/Fabrication/Manipulation of.
- Judge Denies New York Prison Chief’s Motion to be Dismissed from Case Related to Robert Brooks’ Murder, May 1, 2026. Work Strikes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Train/Supervise, Police--Excessive Force, Deliberate Indifference.
- $10.3 Million Paid for Teen’s Death at Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility, April 1, 2026. Restraints, Qualified Immunity, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Sixth Circuit Revives Michigan Prisoner’s Challenge to Guard Tackle That Broke His Foot, March 1, 2026. Evidentiary Ruling (Disciplinary Hearings), Guard Brutality/Beatings, Summary Judgment, Qualified Immunity, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Differing Judicial Outcomes for the New York Guards Who Killed Robert Brooks, Feb. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Pending Appeal/Sentencing.
- The New York Prison System’s Culture of Cruelty and Impunity, Feb. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Racial Discrimination, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- $404,000 Verdict for Ohio Prisoner Brutalized by Trio of Guards, Kept in Solitary for Two Years, Jan. 1, 2026. Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Retaliatory Segregation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement.
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity for Michigan Jailer Accused of Retaliatory Assault, Jan. 1, 2026. Retaliation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Qualified Immunity, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.

