Correctional Officer Giovanni Rodriguez, (left) Sgt. Jason Cremer (center) and Lt. James Fike (right) are charged with battery and official misconduct for allegedly beating an inmate (Facebook/Illinois State Police Investigations)
By Howard Packowitz
PONTIAC – Three Pontiac prison guards face criminal charges for allegedly injuring an inmate at the maximum security lock-up.
A felony charge of official misconduct and a misdemeanor charge of battery were filed against Lt. James Fike, 31, of Bloomington, Sgt. Jason Cremer, 45, of Odell, and correctional officer Giovanni Rodriguez, 21, of Normal.
The charges, filed in Livingston County Court, accuse Rodriguez of striking inmate Asante Brown’s head on the ground, while Cremer and Fike allegedly beat Brown February 3.
Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections indicate Brown, 23, is serving a two-year sentence for a Champaign County criminal sexual abuse conviction.
Details about Brown’s injuries are not available. The charges follow a corrections department and the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation probe.
A judge set Cremer and Fike’s bail at $5,000, requiring them to post $500 to be released from jail. Bond for Rodriguez is at $3,000, requiring him to post $300 to be released.
All three guards have court appearances next month.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
