1 year, 1 month ago Associated Press/Scott Hardy
Alex Banta could get life in prison; jury deadlocked on fate of Todd Sheffler of Mendon
A former prison guard at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling has been convicted of fatally beating an inmate in 2018.
Alex Banta, of Quincy, was found guilty Monday by a jury in US District Court in Springfield on counts of Conspiracy to deprive civil rights, Deprivation of civil rights, Obstruction of Justice,
and falsifying records in a federal investigation. Banta was convicted for taking part in the brutal beating of 65-year-old Larry Earvin. He died of his injuries five weeks later. A second man, Todd Sheffler of Mendon, was facing the same charges. Members of the eight-man, four-woman jury were split 9-3 on Sheffler's involvement. His attorney expects the government to re-try him. Banta could face up to life imprisonment when he's sentenced.
A third defendant, Willie Hedden of Mount Sterling, has pleaded Guilty to counts of conspiracy to deprive civil rights, deprivation of civil rights and conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct. Hedden admitted taking part in the beating. He also admitted that he falsified a prison report and lied to the Illinois State Police about the incident, and talked a friend and fellow prison employee into deleting a text message where Hedden admitted assaulting Earvin. Hedden is set to be sentenced July 18th, and could also get up to life in prison.
