NEW ORLEANS — Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Jail, is facing charges for allegedly assisting in a dramatic jailbreak last week. His lawyer, Michael Kennedy, vehemently denies the accusations, claiming Williams was an unwitting participant in a scheme orchestrated by the inmates.
The Escape Plan
According to authorities, inmates at the jail clogged a toilet in a disabled cell, forcing Williams to shut off the water. The defense attorney, however, argues that the toilet was not meant to be in use and was part of the inmates’ plan to stage their escape. Williams was instructed to fix the toilet, but Kennedy insists that he was not part of the escape plan and had no knowledge of what was going on.
Williams is charged with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. Kennedy describes his client as a “scapegoat,” suggesting that the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is trying to minimize its own responsibility by blaming Williams for the incident.
The Threat
One of the escapees, Antoine Massey, allegedly threatened Williams, saying he would “shank” him if he didn’t comply. Kennedy downplayed this threat, claiming that it was not delivered in an intimidating manner and that it was said “more as an aside” rather than a serious threat.
The defense also questioned the use of a cell that was not meant to be occupied, pointing out that it should have been locked down. Kennedy believes that the clogged toilet was intentionally used by the inmates to trigger the sequence of events that led to their escape.
Additional Arrests and Investigation
Meanwhile, authorities have made further arrests in connection with the escape. Two individuals, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, have been charged with accessory after the fact. Harris is accused of aiding escapees by transporting them to various locations in New Orleans, while Baptiste allegedly provided food to one of the fugitives.
The investigation is ongoing, with five of the escapees still at large.
A Glimpse Into Williams’ Situation
Williams, who is being held in a different facility for his safety, remains concerned about his future. His lawyer maintains that the charges against him are absurd and that he was merely doing his job. Kennedy further emphasized that Williams had no knowledge of the escape plan and that the sheriff’s office should not be using him as a scapegoat.
As the investigation continues, the story has raised questions about security lapses at the Orleans Parish Jail and the potential involvement of both jail staff and external individuals in facilitating the escape.
