A grand jury has indicted Susan Hutson following an investigation into the dramatic escape of 10 inmates from a jail in New Orleans.
According to reports, Hutson was not accused of directly helping the inmates escape through a hole behind a toilet, but investigators claimed poor management and failure to follow basic procedures contributed to the jailbreak.
The 30-count indictment includes charges of malfeasance, obstruction of justice, and falsifying public records. Liz Murrill stated that Hutson’s alleged refusal to comply with legal requirements and take necessary precautions enabled the inmates’ escape.
Court records revealed that Hutson’s bond was set at $300,000, while she was also ordered to surrender her passport and remain within the state. The sheriff office’s chief financial officer, Bianka Brown, was also indicted on multiple related charges.
The inmates reportedly escaped by crawling through a hole behind a jail toilet before climbing over a barbed-wire fence. Authorities said the jailbreak went unnoticed for more than seven hours, with the escapees allegedly leaving graffiti behind reading, “Too Easy LoL.”
The incident sparked criticism from state officials and city leaders, who accused Hutson of poor leadership and delaying notifications to law enforcement agencies.
Hutson had previously blamed political opponents for the escape without providing evidence and also pointed to faulty door locks and deteriorating jail infrastructure, saying she had sought funding to address the facility’s problems.