NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Last week, ten men escaped from a New Orleans prison by clogging the toilet and turning off the water to access a hole behind it. A maintenance worker has been charged with assisting their escape, authorities said on Wednesday.
Maintenance worker Sterling Williams, who was unaware of the inmates’ plans, did not permit the prisoners to cut pipes behind the toilet to create an opening for their escape, attorney Michael Kennedy informed the Associated Press.
This undated photo, released by the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, shows Sterling Williams. (Louisiana Attorney General's Office via the AP)
The defense presented a narrative that starkly contrasted with the authorities’ version a day before 33-year-old Williams’ arrest. Authorities indicated that inmates turned off the water to direct it at the toilet, which contributed to one of the largest jailbreaks in recent U.S. history. Five men remained at large as of Wednesday.
“Williams is just a ‘tool,'” lawyers assert.
Kennedy noted to the Associated Press that after calling Williams to address the toilet issue, he realized it was overflowing.
“This was clearly part of a coordinated scheme,” Kennedy stated. “Williams was merely a tool to turn off the water. They understood it was necessary following the toilet clogging.”
According to an arrest affidavit, without any overflow, Williams initially evaded answers during an interrogation, eventually stating he was threatened with being “shanked” if he didn’t stop the water. Williams reportedly indicated a threat that was central to the escape plan, according to authorities, who asserted that Williams had shut off the water to ensure the prisoners’ “successful” escape.
Kennedy remarked that Williams did not report the escape because he “didn’t realize” it was occurring, also addressing the authorities’ claim that his client was coerced into assistance.
“He was not aware of their intention to flee,” Kennedy explained. “He had no conspiracy with them. He was not cognizant of being utilized.”
A message has been left seeking comments from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office in relation to Kennedy’s statements. The sheriff mentioned on Tuesday that he believes the escape was an inside job.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Attorney General Liz Maryll inspected the prison on Wednesday morning. After the tour, Williams shared with reporters that “numerous individuals” were involved in the escape but withheld additional details.
King’s remarks were misinterpreted, the lawyer maintains.
Inmate Antoine Massey allegedly approached Sterling Williams during maintenance and said he would “shank” him, but Kennedy argued it was “just talk” and did not constitute a threat to the worker.
“People have exaggerated his reaction out of fear. No,” Kennedy insisted. “Yes, someone mentioned shanking him, but it was not articulated in an overtly threatening manner. It was said more casually.”
Kennedy remarked that the cells featuring clogged toilets were designated for disabled inmates and should not have been occupied. “No one should have been in that cell originally,” he stated. “It should have been locked down.”
“It seems evident that it was part of the escape plan to flood and clog the toilet,” Kennedy added. “They know every maintenance worker must turn off the water when it overflows.”
“Scapegoat”
Kennedy mentioned he met with Williams for about 30 minutes via Zoom but did not inquire if Williams completed the task of clogging the toilet or refilling the water, nor did he ascertain whether he was in the cells.
Williams was unfamiliar with the name of the aide who requested he repair the clogged toilet, according to Kennedy.
His lawyer noted that Williams is concerned about his safety and future, mentioning he is currently held in a different facility in another parish.
“The most pressing thing I’ve learned is that these accusations are ludicrous, and the sheriff’s office is trying to use him as a scapegoat to mitigate their own embarrassment,” Kennedy stated. “He’s simply doing his job, and now they are attempting to sacrifice him for it.”
Williams faces ten counts related to a simple escape and one count concerning tenure.
Additional arrests
On Wednesday, authorities arrested two individuals for allegedly assisting some of the escapees. According to a press release from Louisiana State Police, Colny Harris, 32, of New Orleans, and Colvantey Baptist, 38, of Slidell, have been charged with a felony count of being accessories after the fact.
They have been booked at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center, but online prison records have not indicated whether either woman has secured legal representation.
The initial investigation revealed that Harris contacted one of the flight risks by phone and transported two yet-to-be-captured escapees to various locations in New Orleans, while investigators assert that Baptist communicated with Cory Boyd via phone and social media, having recently been recaptured and assisted him with food while he was in hiding.
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Brooke is a local member of the Associated Press/Report’s American State University News Initiative. American Report is a non-profit, national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on critical issues.
Source: apnews.com