Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has been indicted on 30 counts of malfeasance, obstruction of justice and falsifying public records following a state investigation into the escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Parish Justice Center last year, authorities announced.
Background
The brazen jailbreak occurred when inmates crawled through a hole behind a toilet and scaled a barbed wire fence to freedom. The escape went undetected for more than seven hours, sparking outrage and prompting a massive manhunt involving hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement officers. All 10 inmates were eventually recaptured after a monthslong search that stretched across multiple jurisdictions.
The Orleans Parish jail system has been plagued by violence, corruption and dysfunction for decades. The facility was placed under federal oversight in 2013 following constitutional violations, yet problems persisted despite tens of millions of dollars in investment and the opening of a new jail facility in 2015. Federally appointed monitors had warned of inadequate staffing, lax supervision and a skyrocketing number of "internal escapes" in the two years leading up to the jailbreak.
Hutson, who lost her reelection campaign, is set to leave office on Monday. In an exclusive interview with CBS News last August, Hutson attributed the escape to understaffing and "major design flaws" at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. She told reporters those flaws made it "unsafe for those who are housed here and make it unsafe for those who work here."
Hutson initially blamed political opponents for being behind the jailbreak without providing any evidence. She also said faulty door locks enabled the escape and maintained she had been seeking funding to improve the ailing infrastructure.
In a farewell address Tuesday, Hutson said her office faced numerous challenges and that the jailbreak "tested us to the limit." She added her office "responded with professionalism, urgency and resilience, and we came out stronger because of it."
The Charges
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced the indictment Wednesday. While Hutson is not accused of directly helping inmates escape, prosecutors allege her poor management of the jail enabled the breach.
"While Sheriff Hutson did not personally open the doors of the jail for the escapees, her refusal to comply with basic legal requirements and to take even minimal precautions in the discharge of her duties directly contributed to and enabled the escape," Murrill said in a statement.
Hutson was hit with 30 counts including malfeasance, obstruction of justice and falsifying public records. Her chief financial officer, Bianka Brown, was also indicted on 20 similar charges for her role in the office's operations. Court records show bond for Hutson was set at $300,000 and that she was ordered to turn in her passport and not leave the state.
Both Hutson and Brown turned themselves into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center and have been released on bond, CBS affiliate WWL reported. Hutson's office did not immediately respond to phone calls, text messages and emails seeking comment. Court records did not list a personal attorney for Hutson.
Key Takeaways
- Sheriff Susan Hutson indicted on 30 counts including malfeasance, obstruction of justice and falsifying public records
- Escape involved 10 inmates who fled through a hole behind a toilet; jail didn't realize they were missing for more than seven hours
- Hutson not accused of directly helping the escape but charged with enabling it through poor management
- All 10 inmates were recaptured after monthslong manhunt involving hundreds of officers
- Hutson lost reelection and leaves office Monday; bond set at $300,000
What's Next
Hutson is expected to be arraigned on the charges in the coming weeks. Her departure from office on Monday marks the end of her tenure as the city's top law enforcement official, though she will now face criminal proceedings. Prosecutors have indicated they will pursue the case aggressively, arguing that her failures in leadership directly contributed to one of the most notorious jailbreaks in recent Louisiana history.