Four guards at a youth correctional center in St. Charles are accused of encouraging some detainees to attack other detainees as a form of discipline, the Kane County state's attorney's office announced Monday.
The men charged live in Yorkville, Channahon, Rockford and St. Charles.
Johan O. Asiata, Michael M. Klimek, Andre L. McFarland and Elliott J. Short, all guards at Illinois Youth Center-St. Charles, were indicted on multiple counts Nov. 22 by a Kane County grand jury.
Asiata is a former member of the Chicago Bears, playing in two games as an offensive lineman in 2010, and also serving on the team's practice squad for a while.
In January, the guards, led by Klimek, encouraged certain juvenile residents to physically attack other residents, according to Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon. He said the four facilitated the attacks and stood idly by while they happened.
According to the indictments, Klimek, 40, of the 100 block of Tuma Road in Yorkville, is charged with 53 counts of official misconduct, all class 3 felonies; 18 counts of aggravated battery, each also a class 3 felony; three counts of unlawful restraint, all class 4 felonies; one count of mob action, another class 4 felony; and one count of theft, a class A misdemeanor.
State police took Klimek into custody Nov. 22. He posted $7,500 bond and was released from Kane County jail Nov. 23. He is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Dec. 5 at the Kane County Judicial Center.
Asiata, 30, of the 26200 block of South Rachel Drive, Channahon, is charged with five counts of official misconduct, all class 3 felonies; two counts of aggravated battery, both also class 3 felonies; and one count of unlawful restraint, a class 4 felony.
State police took Asiata into custody Nov. 23. He posted $5,000 bond and was released the next day from the Kane County jail. He is next scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Dec. 8 at the Kane County Judicial Center.
McFarland, 31, of the 4500 block of Hitching Post Trail, Rockford, is charged with eight counts of official misconduct and one count of aggravated battery, all class 3 felonies.
State police took McFarland into custody Nov. 22. He posted $3,000 bond and was released from the Kane County jail Nov. 26. He is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Nov. 30 at the Kane County Judicial Center.
Short, 34, of the 1900 block of Oak Street, St. Charles, is charged with four counts of official misconduct and two counts of aggravated battery, all class 3 felonies.
State police took Short into custody Nov. 22. He posted $5,000 bond and was released Nov. 23 from the Kane County jail. He is to appear at 9 a.m. Dec. 7 in at the Kane County Judicial Center.
According to the charges, there were 10 victims in the incidents, all of which took place Jan. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 28.
The charges were reported to the Illinois Department of Corrections in late January, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office. The department asked Illinois State Police to handle the investigation. The four men were then placed on paid administrative leave, according to the state's attorney's office.
If convicted of the most serious offenses against them, each man faces a sentence of probation or between two and five years in prison.
hleone@tribpub.com
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