Hutson is not accused of personally aiding the escape, but inmates escaped through a hole behind a toilet and scaled a barbed wire fence, major media reported. The jail did not realize the inmates were missing for over seven hours, and escapees left graffiti reading 'To Easy LoL'. All 10 escapees were recaptured by October 8.
' Additionally, the sheriff's chief financial officer, Bianka Brown, was indicted on 20 felony counts. A judge set Hutson's bond at $300,000 and Brown's at $200,000, ordering them to surrender passports and remain in Louisiana. In response, Hutson initially blamed political opponents and faulty door locks without providing evidence, but state officials and city leaders criticized her management.
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.
State auditors flagged nearly $260,000 in suspicious overpayments to deputies for security details. Voters elected Michelle Woodfork to replace Hutson. Hutson and Brown were expected to appear in court for a status hearing on Thursday.
It remains unclear what specific management failures led to the escape and why it took over seven hours to notice the inmates were missing.
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