Decatur Prison Guard Faces Misconduct Charges

A spokesman for Illinois’ Department of Corrections says officials aggressively pursued charges against a Decatur prison guard who has been suspended without pay.

Officer Timothy Ware faces eight counts of official misconduct.  

Corrections spokesman Tom Shaer said the state cannot comment on specifics of the charges brought by the Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott.

But according to the Decatur Herald and Review, Ware allegedly called two female inmates on parole for drug charges, and later lied to an investigator that he was pursuing relationships with the women.

Shaer said Ware is suspended pending a judicial review.

“If he is found guilty in court, that’s an automatic termination," he said. "But it’s very important to note that we conducted a thorough internal investigation.  And a determination there that that officer has violated IDOC employment policies will immediately result in a termination.”

Ware has worked at the Decatur Correctional Center, a women’s prison, since 1993, and was arrested last month. He posted bond after a May 24 court appearance. 

"On this extremely rare occasion when an individual violated our trust, the IDOC aggressively investigated and turned all findings over the State's Attorney of Macon County," Corrections Director Tony Godinez said in a statement. "It's in the courts now and Mr. Ware is on unpaid Suspension Pending Judicial Verdict, in accordance with the union contract between the IDOC and AFSCME."