New orleans jail employee accused of helping 10 violent inmates escape said one threatened to ‘shank’ him

The New Orleans prison worker who was arrested for allegedly helping 10 violent inmates break out last week claimed one of the prisoners threatened to “shank” him if he didn’t assist them. 

Sterling Williams, 33, admitted to cutting off the water in the cells at the Orleans Parish Justice Center so the inmates could pull the toilet from the wall and escape. Williams, who was

arrested late Monday, claimed one of the escapees informed him of the plan and threatened him with retaliation if he refused to cooperate, according to an arrest affidavit.  Williams

“willfully and maliciously assisted with the escape,” authorities said in the court document.  “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 and potentially flooded the cell, drawing attention to their actions,” they added.  Only four of the 10 prisoners have been

captured as of Tuesday morning, with three other jail employees currently suspended as police investigate the escape. EXPLORE MORE Williams’ arrest comes after Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan

Hutson revealed that jailbreak was likely an inside job. “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” Hutson said of

the Orleans Justice Center, a correctional facility where about 1,400 people are held. Attorney General Liz Murrill is leading the probe into the breakout as she called on anyone with any

information about the incident to reach out to her office. “We will uncover all the facts eventually and anyone who aided and abetted will be prosecuted to the full extent the law allows,”

Murrill said in a statement.   Williams, who was initially processed at the Orleans Parish Jail before being relocated to another detention center, was charged with 10 counts of principal to

simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office.  Police identified convicts Jermaine Donald, 42; Antoine Massey, 33; Leo Tate, 31; Lenton Vanburen, 27; Derrick Groves, 27; and Corey

Boyd, 19; as the suspects still on the loose.  Inmate Gary Prince, 21 — who was convicted of attempted murder, domestic abuse and aggravated assault — was the latest escapee captured Monday

evening.  The fugitives have a plethora of crimes on their rap sheets, ranging from murder to domestic abuse to burglary, officials said.  While those who have been arrested so far have been

caught inside Orleans Parish, authorities have warned that some of the fugitives may have left the city or state of Louisiana.  Video of the prisoner’s Friday night escape has gone viral,

including the notes they left on the prison’s walls mocking the jail’s security, with one writing: “To Easy LOL.”  ------------------------- HERE IS THE LATEST ON THE 10 NEW ORLEANS INMATES’

JAILBREAK ------------------------- The incident has also prompted several staffers at the District Attorney’s Office to flee the city out of fear of retribution from the prisoners. 

Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said authorities allowed hours to pass before the inmates’ victims and witnesses were notified, putting their lives in danger.  The FBI’s New

Orleans office is currently offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of each of the prisoners.  Crime Stoppers and the ATF are both offering an additional $5,000

each for tips. _With Post Wires_