Correctional center employees admit to depriving inmate of civil rights

BENTON, Ill. - A Correctional Officer and Correctional Lieutenant employed at Lawrence Correctional Center appeared in federal court Tuesday to admit to conspiring to deprive a restrained inmate of civil rights.

Craig Muhs, 28, and Ethan Yates, 30, each pled guilty to conspiring to violate an inmate's civil rights during an incident occurring on July 31, 2025, and during the ensuing investigation. Muhs was employed as a Correctional Officer at Lawrence Correctional Center. Yates was employed as a Correctional Lieutenant, charged with supervising other staff. Lawrence Correctional Center is a maximum-security state prison staffed by employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

According to court documents, the incident arose from a mistaken belief that the inmate had assaulted a female employee. Yates and Muhs admitted to participating in a six-person conspiracy in which the inmate, who was restrained in a mobility chair with leg shackles and hand cuffs, was struck in the face, head, and body. The victim was also pepper sprayed in the genital region and experienced a sensation of asphyxiation after an employee poured water over the cloth spit hood covering the victim's mouth and nose. The victim received numerous injuries, including an orbital fracture requiring reconstructive surgery.

"These maximum-security correctional officers have a difficult and dangerous job, and I stand behind the men and women who work every day in these dangerous conditions surrounded by dangerous people," said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "By their own admissions, these two officers crossed the line into vigilantism after mistakenly believing the inmate had assaulted a female employee. Prison guards simply cannot be allowed to physically abuse a restrained inmate, and other guards who are present must protect a defenseless inmate from this type of unjustified abuse."

Muhs and Yates both admitted to striking the restrained inmate, failing to intervene when other employees severely abused the victim, failing to submit required reports regarding the incident, and failing to obtain appropriate medical attention for the victim.

"ISP takes allegations of abuse very seriously and is committed to thorough investigations and accountability," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.

Under federal law, officers must not only refrain from the use of excessive force, but also have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer uses excessive force. Charges of deprivation of civil rights carry potential sentences of 10 years.

Muhs's sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Yates's sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM. Both sentencings will be held at the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Yandle.

Illinois State Police is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case.