Federal prosecutors said a sergeant at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mt. Sterling pleaded guilty to his role in a fatal assault on an inmate.
Central District of Illinois Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas Quivey said Willie Hedden, 42, of Mt. Sterling entered his pleas via video conference. Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2021.
Quivey said Hedden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deprive civil rights and deprivation of civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and death. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in misleading conduct for falsifying incident reports about the attack.
Hedden and two other prison employees are charged in the death of Larry Earvin, 65, of Chicago.