Charles Whitney, Sentenced to Department of Corrections for Aggravated Battery of Officer

MURPHYSBORO — Joseph A. Cervantez, Jackson County State’s Attorney, announced today that Charles Whitney, 34, Anna, Illinois, was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections following a guilty verdict from a jury for Aggravated Battery of a Correctional Officer, a Class 2 felony, on July 22, 2021. Whitney was sentenced to thirteen (13) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by a two (2) year period of Mandatory Supervised Release.

On March 17, 2021, Whitney, who was an inmate at the Jackson County Jail on unrelated charges, refused orders by a correctional officer to return to his cell. Additional officers were called to assist, and the defendant refused all orders from multiple officers to get back into his cell. Whitney then struck one officer in the face with his fist, causing bodily harm to the officer.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph A. Cervantez stated that “The safety of the men and women in law enforcement who maintain order and keep our jails secure everyday will continue to be of great importance” and “attacks on our correctional officers will result in a swift response from my office.”

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation of this case. Assistant State’s Attorney Penny J. Pierson was responsible for leading the prosecution of this case.