A fourth individual has been charged with assisting the escape of inmates from a New Orleans jail. Connie Weeden, 59, was arrested in Slidell, Louisiana, and is accused of sending money to Jermaine Donald, one of the ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center last Friday (May 16). According to the Louisiana State Police, Weeden used a cell phone app to transfer cash and communicated with Donald before and after the escape. She faces a felony charge of accessory after the fact, which could lead to a fine of up to $500 and a maximum of five years in prison.

The jailbreak involved ten inmates who escaped through a hole behind a metal toilet. Five of them have been recaptured and are now held at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. The escapees face charges including aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment with a weapon, and murder.

Weeden's arrest follows the detention of Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Williams, 33, is accused of aiding the escape by turning off the water to the toilet near the escape route. He has been charged with malfeasance in office and ten counts of being a principal to simple escape. Williams' attorney, Michael Kennedy, maintains his client's innocence, claiming Williams was only responding to an overflowing toilet.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections has launched an audit of the Orleans Justice Center, focusing on jail operations, security, staffing, and procedures. Governor Jeff Landry has called for an aggressive response to the escape, emphasizing transparency and accountability.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has temporarily suspended her reelection campaign in light of the incident. The investigation continues as authorities work to recapture the remaining fugitives and hold those responsible for the jailbreak accountable.

Ed Lambert