Three inmates charged in Menard attack
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Three Illinois Department of Corrections inmates are facing charges of aggravated battery in alleged connection to the April 23 staff assault at Menard Correctional Center in Chester.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The charges were filed Thursday by Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker, according to Randolph County court documents, and name former Menard inmates Elroy Henderson, Mark Smith and Deonta Davis as defendants.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The trio were transferred out of maximum-security Menard after the incident. Henderson and Smith were sent to the Pontiac Correctional Center, while Davis was sent to Lawrence Correctional Center.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Henderson is facing two counts of aggravated battery, while Smith and Davis have one count each. In Henderson's filing, it is alleged he repeatedly struck both correctional officer Bryan Eisenhauer and correctional Sgt. Kevin Murray in the face with a closed fist.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Smith is also accused of punching Murray in the face, while Davis is accused of repeatedly punching correctional officer Tyler Grau in the face.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sources have told the Herald Tribune that the three inmates are members of the Four Corners Hustlers, a gang that emerged out of Chicago's west side in the 1960s.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Henderson, 29, is serving a 55-year sentence for first-degree murder with a parole date of August 2063. Online court records show Henderson was convicted by jury of fatally shooting Jamale Houston five times in the back while Houston shielded his girlfriend and son from the gunfire.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Henderson and Houston, along with some unnamed friends from both parties, had gotten into an argument at a party, resulting in Houston punching Henderson and knocking a tooth out.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Henderson then left and later returned with the weapon.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Davis, 32, is serving time for murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, attempted disarm of a correctional officer and drug offenses. He has a parole date of June 2049, according to IDOC records.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Smith, 31, is serving a 40-year sentence for his role in the November 2002 murder of Earke Wherry, a member of the Traveling Vice Lords gang, and has a parole date of July 2044.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Online court documents show Smith and two other Four Corners Hustlers members confronted Wherry over nonpayment of a "street tax," resulting in his death. Smith reportedly was a lookout during the incident.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Aggravated battery is a Class 2 felony, with a punishment range of seven to 14 years in prison if aggravating factors are found.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">"Based on prior criminal history, none of the defendants would be eligible for probation and will be eligible for extended term sentences of 14 years," said Walker said in an email to the newspaper.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">AFSCME sources told the Herald Tribune the inmates had a list of the staff members names and that the attack was planned and occurred between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. when inmates were returning to east cell house from dinner.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">"It was unprovoked in any way," said Pat Rensing, staff representative with AFSCME Council 31, in previous comments to the newspaper.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the officers was transported to Memorial Hospital of Chester with internal bleeding, a concussion and required several stitches to his lip.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The others reportedly suffered minor injuries.</span>