A maintenance worker in New Orleans has been arrested after authorities say he played a role in helping 10 inmates escape from jail.
Sterling Williams, 33, was taken into custody Monday night and is facing multiple charges in connection with the escape that occurred early Friday morning.
According to Louisiana officials, the escape happened at the Orleans Justice Center near downtown New Orleans. The inmates reportedly removed a toilet from the wall and accessed a hole behind it, created by exposed plumbing, to begin their breakout. They allegedly used this route to remove metal bars and force open a cell door before scaling a wall and fleeing across a nearby highway.
Williams, employed as a maintenance worker at the jail, is accused of shutting off the water supply to the cell used in the escape. Authorities say this action allowed the inmates to remove the toilet without alerting security systems. In court filings, Williams claimed he was threatened by one of the inmates, Antoine Massey, who remains on the run. He told investigators he was warned he would be stabbed with a makeshift weapon if he refused to cooperate.
Five of the 10 escaped inmates have been captured so far. Several are facing serious charges, including murder and armed robbery. Massey is among those still at large.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office said the inmates manipulated a sliding door off its tracks before moving the toilet and breaking through metal bars behind it. They left behind graffiti mocking the ease of their escape, including messages like “To Easy LOL” and a smiley face near the hole in the wall.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill confirmed that Williams admitted to turning off the water as instructed, rather than reporting the inmate’s threats. He has been charged with 10 counts of aiding in an escape and one count of malfeasance in office.
Officials say the investigation is ongoing, and anyone involved will be held accountable. Authorities are urging anyone with knowledge of the escape or the whereabouts of the remaining inmates to come forward.
The jail, located just two miles from the city’s French Quarter, has faced criticism in the past over security lapses. This latest incident has raised fresh concerns about oversight and staffing inside the facility.