New Orleans Jail Plumber Claims Innocence in Inmate Escape Case Amid Ongoing Investigations

New Orleans Jail Plumber Denies Accusations in Inmate Escape Case

A plumber employed at a New Orleans correctional facility recently pleaded not guilty to allegations that he facilitated the escape of ten inmates from the Orleans Parish jail earlier this year. Sterling Williams, who has worked at the facility for several years, claims he is being unfairly targeted as a scapegoat, according to his attorney, Michael Kennedy.

Outside the Orleans Parish courthouse, Kennedy defended his client, stating, “This is a man who’s never been in trouble in his life, and suddenly he goes to work, a job he’s worked at for years without any problem, and he’s used as a scapegoat and thrown in jail.” Williams is the sole employee among more than a dozen individuals facing charges related to this high-profile jailbreak, which has captivated public attention since it occurred in May.

Ongoing Investigations and Jail Conditions

In the weeks following the escape, which remains notorious for its cinematic quality, one of the fugitives is still at large, while the remainder have been recaptured. Investigation sources revealed that several correctional officers are currently on unpaid administrative leave while inquiries into their potential involvement continue. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has not disclosed the total number of employees on leave or warranted terminations but previously announced that three workers were suspended without pay.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who oversees the jail, took responsibility for the escape while shedding light on the deteriorating conditions of the facility, for which she has sought additional funding. “I take full accountability for the escape,” Hutson said, while also addressing the city’s negligence in providing financial support for necessary improvements to the aging infrastructure, including faulty locks and broken security cameras.

In response, the sheriff’s office recently secured $15 million from the state to enhance security. Kennedy criticized the lack of maintenance, asking, “Why is it already falling apart? Why do we need $15 million worth of renovations or upgrades when the building is only a decade old?”

Details of the Escape

The dramatic escape involved inmates removing a toilet from a cell, subsequently crawling through a hole they created behind it. Surveillance footage captured the individuals leaving the facility and crossing Interstate-10 under the cover of darkness. In jest, the escapees left messages on the wall, with notes including “to easy LOL” and “we innocent.”

According to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Williams allegedly cut off the water supply to the cell to assist the escapees, claiming he acted under duress after being threatened by one of the inmates. Williams, however, has denied any prior collusion with the escapees and maintained his innocence, as stated by his attorney.

Legal Developments

Four others accused of aiding the inmates, including Lenton VanBuren Sr., Patricia VanBuren, Angel McKay, and Tyshanea Randolph, also entered not guilty pleas in court. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill emphasized the commitment to hold all individuals accountable for their involvement in the jailbreak, regardless of whether their assistance occurred from within or outside the facility.

Following the recent hearings, Kennedy expressed his frustration regarding the high bail set for his client at $1 million, arguing for a reduction. “Bond is supposed to be high enough to ensure someone will return to court. Not so high that we create a debtors’ prison, which is exactly what this is,” Kennedy remarked. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for August 19, alongside an examination of the evidence against Williams and his alleged accomplices.