(WSIL) -- State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-58th Dist.) is calling for three administrators at Choate Mental Health in Anna to be placed on unpaid leave.
Investigators sent to employees Bryant T. Davis, Teresa A. Smith and Gary K. Goins this week.
In a news release Wednesday, Bryant called it 'unconscionable' that the three were actively working during an ongoing investigation.
"They have access to employees where they could influence statements that are being made by employees," Bryant told News 3 in a phone call Wednesday.
The indictments stem from a pair of Illinois State Police investigations that led to the arrest of in October 2020. A month later, ISP Smith.
On Monday, the Union County State's Attorney's office indicted Davis, Goins and Smith each on official misconduct, a class 3 felony. Smith received an additional obstruction of justice charge, a class 4 felony.
In a news release Monday, State's attorney Tyler Tripp accused the trio of violating the Illinois Department of Human Services investigative protocol.
It's alleged that the violations started a chain of events that impeded an ISP investigation into alleged battery by a Choate employee to a resident, the release said.
"That's why you put these kinds of individuals, when there's this kind of a situation, you put them on administrative leave," Bryant said.
In January 2020, the state's attorney charged three employees with obstruction and official misconduct following a near two-year investigation into abuse allegations.
Bryant hopes state officials will investigate and take the Choate allegations seriously.
"As we’ve seen with the recent tragedy at the LaSalle Veterans Home, failure to take the appropriate steps necessary to ensure the safety of residents and our most vulnerable have serious consequences," Bryant's statement said.
