1 year, 9 months ago by Scott Hardy
Todd Sheffler of Mendon will now go on trial August 1
The re-trial of a former prison guard at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling, whose Federal case ended in a mistrial after being accused of fatally beating an inmate in 2018, has been delayed one month.
Todd Sheffler of Mendon was in US District Court in Springfield Thursday for a pre-trial hearing, ahead of a July 5th re-trial. Records show that a defense request to delay the trial was granted. It will now start with jury selection August 1st. Sheffler's defense said they needed more time, because they haven't received all the transcripts from the first trial. In late April, a federal jury said they deadlocked at 9 to 3 in favor of convicting Sheffler on counts of Conspiracy to deprive civil rights, Deprivation of civil rights, conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct, and two counts of obstruction of justice. A second defendant, Alex Banta, of Quincy, was found Guilty on similar charges. Banta was convicted for taking part in the brutal beating of 65-year-old Larry Earvin, who died of his injuries a month later. Banta could face up to life in prison when he's sentenced August 22nd. 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.
