Cord A. Williams, Excessive Force, Illinois 2022

A former correctional officer at Pinckneyville Correctional Center has admitted to using excessive force against a restrained inmate in Illinois.

Cord A. Williams, 35, of Vergennes, Illinois, pleaded guilty to violating the inmate's civil rights by using excessive force under color of law and of conspiracy to obstruct justice by falsifying incident reports.

The incident occurred on April 24, 2022, and resulted in significant injuries to the inmate, including facial fractures, multiple lacerations, a chipped tooth, and lung damage.

As part of Williams' plea, he admitted that the beating occurred to punish the inmate because he had previously punched a different correctional officer.

Correctional officers Christian L. Pyles, 25, of Christopher, Illinois, and Mark C. Maxwell, 52, of Pinckneyville, Illinois, are also charged in the indictment.

The indictment alleges both Williams and Pyles beat an inmate who was fully restrained in handcuffs and leg irons. Maxwell was charged with a separate civil rights violation that alleges he was the acting lieutenant when he failed to intervene and allowed the inmate to be beaten in his presence.

The Illinois State Police are leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft is prosecuting the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdil/pr/prison-guard-admits-using-excessive-force-obstructing-justice