Mount Sterling man pleads guilty to cell phone and drug smuggling

MOUNT STERLING – A former Western Illinois Correctional Center employee likely will not have to serve any prison time after pleading guilty to smuggling drugs and cellphones into the Mount Sterling prison.

Joshua D. Havens, 49, of Mount Sterling pleaded guilty to unauthorized introduction of contraband into a correctional facility by an employee, a Class X felony, according to Brown County Prosecutor Michael Hill.

Other than first-degree murder, Class X is the most serious felony in Illinois.

In exchange for his guilty plea, two additional Class X charges of unauthorized introduction of contraband into a correctional facility by an employee were dropped.

Another charge of possession of a deceptively appearing substance with intent to traffic was also dropped.

Havens was accused of trying to bring 100 pills into jail that looked like a controlled substance but were not, Hill said. Similar drugs appear to be the same in terms of packaging, shape, color or size.

Havens was sentenced by Judge Jerry Hooker of Brown Circuit Court to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, but received a conditional discharge and 36 months of probation. Havens was also fined $25,000.

If Havens successfully completes his probation, he will not have to serve any prison time, Hill said.

Havens was arrested by Illinois State Police on Feb. 21 during an investigation into reports of contraband being brought into the prison. Havens was not formally charged until April 26. Those charges stem from incidents that occurred on Nov. 30, state police said.

Havens, who worked as a carpenter at the prison, was the only one arrested, state police said. He resigned March 1, according to Department of Corrections records.