News Summary
A maintenance worker at the Orleans Justice Center, Sterling Williams, has been arrested following his involvement in the escape of ten inmates. Williams faces multiple charges, including malfeasance in office for turning off the water supply to inmates’ cells, which aided their escape. Five of the ten escapees have been recaptured, while five remain at large, raising concerns over the facility’s security measures and managerial oversight. The incident has led to increased scrutiny of operations at the Orleans Justice Center as authorities work to restore safety.
New Orleans – A maintenance worker at the Orleans Justice Center has been arrested for his involvement in the escape of ten inmates, an incident that has raised serious concerns about security procedures within the facility. Sterling Williams, 33, faces a total of 11 charges, including ten counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. His bond has been set at $1.1 million.
Williams was apprehended on Monday following a thorough investigation initiated after the escape that occurred early Friday morning. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill disclosed that Williams admitted to turning off the water in the inmates’ cell at their request, a crucial act that facilitated their escape. Murrill characterized his actions as having “malicious intent,” noting that he had multiple chances to report the situation but chose not to.
The escape plan relied on a series of faulty locks and cut bars, with inmates breaching their pod and using a hole behind a toilet to make their way out. Surveillance footage shows Williams engaging with key escapees, including Antoine Massey, who allegedly threatened him with a shank to ensure compliance with their water shutoff request. Authorities believe that if water had remained on, the escape plan would have failed as flooding would have drawn attention to the inmates’ actions.
As of now, five of the ten escapees have been recaptured, including Corey Boyd, who was arrested on Tuesday. Other apprehended inmates are Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, and Gary Price. However, five inmates still remain at large, with outstanding warrants for serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping. This ongoing situation raises alarms for local law enforcement and public safety.
The escape was exacerbated by operational failures, including a monitoring technician leaving their post to obtain food, which allowed inmates to execute their plan without immediate detection. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently under more scrutiny as Sheriff Susan Hutson has acknowledged responsibility for the procedural failures that contributed to the escape. A complete audit of the Orleans Justice Center’s operations is now in progress due to persistent security and staffing issues.
Following the escape, a message written by the escapees, “To Easy LoL,” was found inside the facility, highlighting their perception of the escape process as simple. The ramifications of the escape have prompted concerns beyond just security; District Attorney Jason Williams has expressed worries about potential retaliation from the fugitives against himself and his staff.
In the wake of this chaotic event, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has pledged to ensure the capture of all remaining escapees, advocating for increased accountability and improved conditions within the jail. The incident has also led to the suspension of four additional staff members, highlighting the systemic issues at the Orleans Justice Center.
The situation continues to develop as law enforcement works to secure the final escapees and address the multiple layers of management failures within the Orleans Justice Center. The community awaits further updates as law enforcement conducts ongoing operations to restore safety and confidence among residents in New Orleans.
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