Prison Guard Admits to Using Excessive Force, Obstructing Justice

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former correctional officer at Pinckneyville Correctional Center pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday stemming from an incident in which a restrained inmate was beaten.

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.

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 on April 24, 2022. 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.

As part of Williams’ plea, he admitted that the beating occurred to punish the inmate, because he had previously punched a different correctional officer. Court records showed the beating caused significant injuries to the inmate, including facial fractures, multiple lacerations, a chipped tooth, and lung damage.

As part of their official duties, correctional officers are required to write incident reports to accurately document any unusual incidents that they observe or are reported to them, including disturbances or the use of force. The conspiracy count alleges that both Williams, Pyles, and others colluded to file false reports about the incident.

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