A Slidell woman was arrested and accused of helping a fugitive who is still at large from the massive New Orleans jailbreak elude capture, Louisiana State Police said.
In addition to jail employees, she is the third person arrested for assisting the Orleans Justice Center’s escaped inmates.
Donald remains at large, along with four others who broke out of the Orleans Justice Center on May 16.
Earlier on Thursday, the Orleans Parish District Attorney issued subpoenas to the Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, and other OPSO staff members as part of an ongoing investigation into the escape of inmates.
Williams, a 33-year-old maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Justice Center, was arrested and booked into jail Tuesday morning, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
Louisiana State Police said that a woman from Slidell was taken into custody and charged with aiding an escaped criminal from the massive jailbreak in New Orleans.
The 59-year-old Connie Weeden was arrested in Slidell and admitted to the St. Thursday at Tammany Parish Correctional Center. She is the third person arrested for helping the escaped inmates at the Orleans Justice Center, in addition to jail staff.
Weeden is charged with accessory after the fact, a felony, for allegedly helping one of the five fugitives still at large, Jermaine Donald.
LSP officials said in a statement that “Weeden was in contact via phone both before and after the escape.”. Investigators discovered that she gave Donald money via a mobile app following the escape. “.”.
Along with four other people, Donald is still at large after breaking out of the Orleans Justice Center on May 16. Out of the ten who escaped, five have been apprehended by authorities.
There will be severe repercussions for aiding fugitives, law enforcement officials warned. State police stated, “Those who choose to help or hide these people are breaking the law and will be held accountable.”. “We will not tolerate harboring fugitives as it jeopardizes community safety. “,”.
Conviction for accessory after the fact in Louisiana carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum fine of $500, or both.
The 32-year-old Cortnie Harris and the 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste were taken into custody and charged with felony counts of accessory after the fact, the LSP said on Wednesday. According to authorities, both of them were booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney subpoenaed Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson and other OPSO employees earlier Thursday in connection with an ongoing investigation into the inmate escape.
Access to emails, texts, and internal communications sent or received by Hutson and other OPSO employees and contractors—including those sent to Sterling Williams, the jail maintenance worker who was detained in relation to the jailbreak—was required by the order.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Tuesday morning that Williams, 33, a maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Justice Center, was taken into custody and placed under arrest.
According to sources, Williams allegedly turned off the water to a toilet to make room for the prisoners to flee. After ripping the toilet off its hinges, the inmates—three of whom are still at large and are accused of second-degree murder—were able to escape.
Four additional jail staff members have been suspended as a result of this inquiry.
