The Orleans Parish Jail maintenance worker arrested in connection with the escape of 10 inmates from that jail on Friday reportedly said he was threatened with violence by the escapees before helping them get loose.
Sterling Williams, 33, an employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO), has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office, according to a Tuesday morning statement from Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office.
Murrill said that Williams turned the water off in the cell the inmates escaped from, and that instead of reporting the inmates, he helped them.
However, according to an Associated Press report, Williams claimed in his arrest affidavit that the escapees threatened to “shank” him if he didn’t aid them in their breakout.
He reportedly told police that one of the escaped inmates tried to take his phone and “get him to bring a book with cash app information.”
OPSO did not immediately return a comment request.
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The release said that he was booked into the Orleans Parish Jail, the same one from which he allegedly helped the inmates escape, but that he will be transferred 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. I encourage anyone who knows anything and even those who may have provided assistance to come forward now to obtain the best possible outcome in their particular case,” said Murrill.
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Ten inmates escaped from the prison early Friday morning, and six remain on the run as of midday Tuesday.
The most recent arrest came on Monday night.
Gary C. Price, 21, who was in jail awaiting trial on multiple counts of attempted murder, was captured by the Louisiana State Police (LSP).
LSP said Tuesday morning that Price was arrested in New Orleans East by their detectives and a SWAT team. He was flown by helicopter back to jail.
However, the escapee who is considered most dangerous is Derrick Groves, 27, who remains at large.
He was convicted of killing two men on Mardi Gras in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward in 2018, and was in the jail awaiting sentencing for the crime.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Groves was indicted federally on nine counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, eight counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, six counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of drug trafficking conspiracy.
On Monday, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said he and his prosecutors feared retribution from Groves and the other escapees. He said that as soon as he learned of the escape, he notified prosecutors who had tried cases against the suspects and coordinated with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to get them out of town.
“I am personally afraid, not just for myself but for my lawyers who tried the case against the individual twice,” Williams said during a news conference, referring to Groves.
Williams reportedly tried Groves twice, and the convicted killer was tried a total of three times in New Orleans.
He was first convicted given two life sentences for killing two on Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward in 2018. One of the convictions was then overturned, leading to a second trial that ended in a mistrial. A third trial saw Groves convicted unanimously.
“We were asking for a life sentence of this man, and he is now at large,” Williams said. “Two of the lawyers who I tried that case with, who successfully went forward and [were] able to get a conviction in that case, these lawyers got out of town this weekend with their families out of fear of retribution.”
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