More people arrested for helping escaped New Orleans inmates as search for 5 continues
At least seven people have been arrested and charged with helping the inmates, including most recently a fellow inmate accused of collaborating with the escapees. Trevon Williams, who did not escape from the New Orleans jail, was charged with 10 counts of being a principal to simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on May 23.
"As I promised when we initiated our investigation, we will hold absolutely everyone who contributed any role to the prison break in New Orleans accountable," Murrill said.
Also on May 23, the New Orleans Police Department said it arrested Emmitt Weber on a charge of accessory after the fact of simple escape. Weber was one of four people questioned after investigators "combed through surveillance footage, connecting crucial dots in the search," the police department said.
Also in recent days, 30-year-old Casey Smith was arrested for allegedly helping two of the escaped inmates with transportation, the police department said. She was also charged with being an accessory after simple escape.
They join two other women and a jail employee who have been charged. The Louisiana State Police issued a stern warning to members of the public that anyone assisting the inmates on the run will be caught and arrested.
"The decision is simple – assist law enforcement in locating them and receive reward money, or be arrested with a potentially high bond. The choice is yours!" state police said.
The inmates escaped in the early morning hours of May 16. They ripped a toilet and sink unit away from a wall and climbed through a hole, officials have said. By the end of the day, three of them were recaptured and authorities nabbed two more in the days that followed. It has been four days since an inmate has been taken back into custody.
The inmates still at large are Jermaine Donald, Derrick Groves, Leo Tate, Lenton Vanburen and Antoine Massey. Donald, Vanburen and Groves have all been charged with second-degree murder, officials said.
Robert Moody, Dkenan Dennis, Kendall Myles, Gary Price and Corey Boyd are back in custody.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Orleans jail escape: More arrested for helping inmates
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