A Slidell lady was arrested and accused of serving to a fugitive who continues to be at massive from the large New Orleans jailbreak elude seize, Louisiana State Police mentioned.
Connie Weeden, 59, was taken into custody in Slidell and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Heart on Thursday. Along with jail workers, she is the third particular person arrested for helping the Orleans Justice Heart’s escaped inmates.
Weeden faces a felony cost of accent after the very fact for allegedly helping Jermaine Donald, one of many 5 escapees nonetheless on the run.
A display seize taken from a handout CCTV video exhibits inmates operating via the loading dock on the Orleans Parish Justice Heart, in New Orleans, Might 16, 2025.
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Workplace by way of Reuters
“Weeden was in touch by way of telephone each earlier than and after the escape,” mentioned LSP officers in an announcement. “Investigators decided that after the escape, she supplied Donald with money via a mobile phone app.”
Donald stays at massive, together with 4 others who broke out of the Orleans Justice Heart on Might 16. Authorities have recaptured 5 of the unique 10 who escaped.
Legislation enforcement officers warned that serving to fugitives will carry severe penalties. “Those that select to help or conceal these people are violating the regulation and will likely be held accountable,” mentioned state police. “Harboring fugitives threatens the protection of our communities and won’t be tolerated.”
Beneath Louisiana regulation, a conviction for accent after the very fact carries a penalty of as much as 5 years in jail, a nice of as much as $500, or each.
The LSP introduced on Wednesday that 32-year-old Cortnie Harris and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste have been arrested and charged with felony counts of being equipment after the very fact. They have been each booked on the Plaquemines Parish Detention Heart, officers mentioned.
The cell at Orleans Justice Heart in New Orleans the place inmates apparently escaped from.
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Workplace
Earlier on Thursday, the Orleans Parish District Legal professional issued subpoenas to the Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, and different OPSO workers members as a part of an ongoing investigation into the escape of inmates.
The order demanded entry to emails, textual content messages, inner messages, from or to Hutson and different OPSO workers and contractors, together with these to Sterling Williams, the jail upkeep employee who was arrested in reference to the jailbreak.
Williams, a 33-year-old upkeep employee on the Orleans Parish Justice Heart, was arrested and booked into jail Tuesday morning, in keeping with Louisiana Legal professional Basic Liz Murrill.
Williams allegedly shut off the water to a rest room to assist clear the best way for the inmates to flee, sources mentioned. The prisoners, together with three who’re charged with second-degree homicide and stay on the run, have been capable of get out after ripping the bathroom off its hinges.
4 different jail workers have been suspended on this investigation.
