Louisiana AG Announces Authorities Arrested Jail Employee For Allegedly Helping 10 Inmates Escape

Republican Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced that authorities had apprehended a jail employee for allegedly helping inmates escape a New Orleans prison Tuesday.

Authorities arrested 33-year-old Sterling Williams after he allegedly aided in the escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center, according to a Louisiana Department of Justice (LDOJ) press release. The inmates allegedly escaped early on May 16, according to Fox 8. Authorities caught the first three inmates within 24 hours of the escape and the fourth on Monday, Louisiana State Police said. (RELATED: Seven Jail Escapees Still At Large In New Orleans)

Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Special Agents, the LDOJ’s criminal division and Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division deputies started an investigation on May 16, according to the LDOJ.

Williams, a maintenance employee at the Sheriff’s Office, told investigators that one of the escapees told him to turn the water off in a cell, allowing the inmates to escape, authorities said. He allegedly did what the inmate requested instead of reporting the him and permitted the escapees to carry out their plan.

Special Agents obtained a warrant to arrest Williams. Authorities charged him with 10 counts of Principal to Simple Escape and one count of Malfeasance In Office.

Law enforcement arrested Williams and booked him into the Orleans Parish Jail before transferring him to a different facility.

“This is a continuing investigation, and we will provide updates as often as possible. We will uncover all the facts eventually and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows,” said Murrill.

Authorities said Corey Boyd, Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Antoine Massey, Leo Tate and Lenton Vanburen are still on the loose, Fox 8 reported.