Stateville Guard Attacked A Prison Inmate: Prosecutors

CREST HILL, IL —An Illinois State Police investigation has led to the arrest of 40-year-old Stateville Correctional Center guard Chris Koziol, authorities announced Thursday.

Koziol, who lives in Bourbonnais, faces one count of aggravated battery. The criminal complaint states that Koziol caused great bodily harm to one of the Stateville inmates by striking the 26-year-old inmate in the head.

The injured inmate was serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of vehicle carjacking involving a gun out of Cook County. The injured inmate has been moved out of Stateville to another Illinois Department of Corrections prison facility, documents show.

According to the state police, the agency's division of internal affairs was made aware of an allegation of aggravated battery involving Koziol last Oct. 5.

On Wednesday, "after a thorough investigation by ... investigators, the Will County State’s Attorney’s office approved one count of aggravated battery," the Illinois State Police announced.

On Thursday, Koziol was taken into custody at the Stateville Correctional Center. Koziol spent about two hours in custody at the Will County Jail before posting 10 percent of his $50,000 bail.

“Protecting all citizens of the State of Illinois is an integral part of the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation Mission,” Illinois State Police Captain Darryl Bogard announced. “DII takes these types of allegations seriously and will continue to thoroughly investigate such allegations. The thorough investigative work performed by these officers ensures the public remains confident in the ISP handling allegations of misconduct."