The case against Darren Hays will remain in White County, but a judge from outside the county has been appointed to oversee the proceedings. Following the arrest of Darren Hays, White County Judge T. Scott Webb recused himself from the case on March 13th, citing conflicts for all judges sitting in White County.
Judge Webb requested the Chief Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit Court to appoint a new judge. On Tuesday, Chief Judge Melissa Morgan assigned Circuit Judge Jonathan Braden of Cumberland County to preside over the case.
A first appearance and detention hearing for Hays has been scheduled for this (Thursday) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in White County. The reassignment ensures the proceedings will move forward without conflicts of interest among the local judiciary.
The investigation into Hays began on November 11th, 2025, when the White County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Illinois State Police (ISP) regarding Hays, a correctional officer at the White County Jail. According to authorities, an extensive investigation revealed that Hays allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a female inmate, Megan Valentine, while on duty at the jail.
On March 11th ISP Special Agents presented the case to the Gallatin County State’s Attorney’s Office, which subsequently filed charges and issued an arrest warrant for Hays. He was arrested by ISP the same day and transported to the Saline County Detention Center, where he remains in custody pending his first court appearance.