New Orleans Jail Worker Helped Inmates Escape After Threats, Officials Say

New Orleans Jail Worker Arrested After Assisting Inmate Escape Under Threat

Ten inmates escaped from Orleans Justice Center amid major security breakdown

A New Orleans jail maintenance worker has been arrested after admitting he helped ten inmates escape from the Orleans Justice Center, claiming he was threatened with violence by prisoners if he did not cooperate. The escape has triggered widespread criticism, internal investigations, and a manhunt, as six escapees remain at large.

The bold escape occurred early Friday when the inmates exploited a series of security failures, including faulty cell locks, absent supervision, and a hole behind a toilet used as an exit route. Graffiti at the site mocked the facility’s security with the phrase: “To Easy LoL.”

Maintenance worker claims he was threatened

On Tuesday, authorities arrested Sterling Williams, 33, a jail maintenance worker who admitted he shut off the water to a cell—an action that facilitated the escape.

According to an arrest affidavit, one of the inmates warned Williams he would be “shanked” if he refused to cooperate. Another allegedly tried to steal Williams' phone and demanded a book containing Cash App account details. Investigators believe Williams acted willfully and maliciously, aiding the escape by turning off the water supply. This action allowed the toilet to be removed without flooding the cell and drawing attention.

“If the inmates removed the sink in the cell and disconnected the rest of the plumbing with the water still on, the plan to escape would not have been successful,” the affidavit stated.

Williams is now facing 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. No attorney for Williams was immediately available for comment.

Sheriff admits failure, others suspended

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has publicly accepted responsibility for the escape, labeling it an "inside job" and confirming that three employees have been suspended during the ongoing investigation. It remains unclear whether Williams was among them prior to his arrest.

“It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” Hutson said.

In a statement before the New Orleans City Council, Hutson acknowledged both procedural breakdowns and intentional misconduct. The incident has raised serious concerns about internal corruption and staff reliability at the facility.

Delayed response and communication failures

Critics have also focused on the hourslong delay in notifying law enforcement. Despite the jailbreak occurring overnight, local and state authorities were not informed until around 10:30 a.m.—more than nine hours later.

Chief of Corrections Jeworski “Jay” Mallet attributed the delay to confusion during the morning head count, which typically begins around 6:30 a.m. and takes less than an hour. In this case, it extended well beyond that as staff attempted to verify the escape.

“There were failures, failures in our personnel,” Hutson admitted during the council hearing.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed she learned of the jailbreak indirectly, while councilmembers sharply criticized the breakdown in communication. Councilmember J.P. Morrell noted that local police should have been notified immediately, as they have “exponentially vaster” resources for locating fugitives.

Political and public fallout

The incident has sparked mounting calls for accountability. Both state and local officials have pointed to systemic weaknesses in jail management and lapses in leadership under Hutson’s watch.

“Our community deserves answers and more importantly it deserves action,” Hutson said during the Tuesday session, pledging to make reforms and regain public trust.

As the manhunt for the six remaining fugitives continues, scrutiny of jail protocols and personnel oversight intensifies. The escape has cast a spotlight on deeper issues within the New Orleans correctional system—issues that may take far more than one arrest to resolve.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for continued updates on the investigation and fallout from the Orleans Justice Center escape.