New Orleans judges asking for security amid search for escaped inmates
Updated: 5:04 PM CDT May 16, 2025
OUTSIDE OF O. JAKE TRAVERS. CONNER LIVE. WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. JOINED NOW BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JASON WILLIAMS. WE TALKED TO YOU A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO, BUT TO GET EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED, YOU PROSECUTED ONE OF THESE GUYS WHO’S A VIOLENT CRIMINAL, AND NO ONE ALERTED YOU THAT WHEN YOU WALKED TO YOUR OFFICE AT 830 THIS MORNING, A GUY THAT YOU SENT TO JAIL FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE WAS OUT RUNNING FREE? YEAH, THAT THAT. I HAVE TO SAY, I’M ANGRY. WHEN I WAS TALKING TO JONAH EARLIER AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENT, I WAS I WAS PRETTY FIRED UP. I’VE GOT TWO LAWYERS WHO TRIED THOSE CASES. WE’VE TRIED THE CASE THREE TIMES. WE HAVE THREE LAWYERS, TWO LAWYERS WHO TRIED THAT CASE WITH ME. THEY’RE GETTING ESCORTED HOME TO GET THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO GET OUT OF TOWN FOR A FEW DAYS, BECAUSE THEY’RE NERVOUS. WE ASKED FOR A LIFE SENTENCE IN THREE SEPARATE TRIALS. WE’RE A ROCK’S THROW AWAY FROM THE JAIL. JUST A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY. JUST A HEADS UP. MAYBE KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL WHEN YOU’RE WALKING FROM YOUR CAR TO THE OFFICE. THIS MORNING. WE DIDN’T GET THAT. NOT JUST THAT, BUT YOU’RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE WITNESSES WHO PUT THEIR NECKS ON THE LINE THINKING, OKAY, WE’RE PUTTING THESE GUYS AWAY FROM FOR LIFE. YOU KNOW, THEY KILLED OUR LOVED ONES. WE WERE WITNESSES TO A CRIME, AND YOU HAD TO MAKE THOSE CALLS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THIS MORNING. ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE WAS WITNESS INTIMIDATION BY MR. GROVES AND HIS CODEFENDANT THROUGHOUT THOSE THREE TRIALS. AND WE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY START WHEN WHEN I FOUND OUT FROM REPORTERS, I DIDN’T FIND OUT FROM FROM FROM MY LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNER ACROSS THE STREET, THAT’S A PROBLEM. AND SO WE GOT ON THE PHONE WITH WITNESSES AND VICTIMS NEXT, NEXT OF KIN TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE NOW ON THE LAM AND TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US? I KNOW THE SHERIFF MENTIONED THAT SHE CONTACTED THE U.S. MARSHALS TASK FORCE AND THEN THE FUSION CENTER. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT OR ARE WE RELYING ON THEM TO BE ABLE TO DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION AND TO DOLE THAT OUT, OR. I’M NOT CONFIDENT ANYTHING I’M GETTING FROM OPSO AT THIS MOMENT, BASED ON WHAT I’VE SEEN AND WHAT I’VE HEARD AND WHAT I’VE NOT HEARD, AND THE LACK OF CONTACT, I STILL HAVEN’T HAD ANY COMMUNICATION WITH THE SHERIFF TO DATE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS RIGHT NOW. I CAN TELL YOU. I CALLED THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE AT 1113 AFTER I FOUND OUT TO FORMALLY ASK FOR THEIR HELP. 1113 1113 WHEN I FOUND OUT, I CONTACTED THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE AND THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED A FORMAL REQUEST FROM THE SHERIFF AT THAT POINT. I THEN CONTACTED THE HEAD OF TROOP NOLA AND ASKED FOR HIS ASSISTANCE FORMALLY. HE HAD NOT BEEN CALLED BY THE SHERIFF. THAT IS A PROBLEM. I CALL THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS BIGGER THAN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS RIGHT NOW. I’VE NEVER HEARD OF 11 INMATES GETTING OUT OF A JAIL OR PRISON IN MY 52 YEARS ON THIS PLANET. SO HERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE HOPE TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE SHERIFF AT 530 HERE. BUT IT HAPPENED AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING. AND LOOK, I UNDERSTAND AND I THINK THE PUBLIC CAN SYMPATHIZE WITH THIS. THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED. IT’S A JOB THAT DOESN’T PAY A LOT OF MONEY. AND YOU’RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE ACCUSED OF VIOLENT CRIMES. BUT I THINK WE ALL WANT TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY IS WATCHING A CAMERA OR PAYING ATTENTION, THAT IF YOU HAVE TEN PEOPLE RUNNING OUT OF YOUR FACILITY AT ONE IN THE MORNING, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SOUND THE ALARM AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED SOME HELP HERE. LET’S CALL ALL CARS HERE. YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I MEAN, LET’S JUST PUT ALL THIS IN PERSPECTIVE AND KIND OF SLOW IT DOWN FOR A MOMENT. NUMBER ONE, I’VE BEEN IN THAT JAIL, THE CITY COUNCIL, WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ALLOCATED A LOT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BUILD A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY WITH CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THAT FACILITY, WITH MONITORS THAT ALLOW DEPUTIES TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON INSIDE OF THERE. SO WHAT WE’RE HEARING IS THE SHERIFF FOUND OUT AT 9:00, OKAY. BUT SHE’S GIVING US A SPECIFIC TIME FOR WHEN THEY GOT OUT. HOW WAS THAT TIME DEVELOPED? WHOEVER IS PROVIDING THAT 1:00 ESCAPE TIME, WHAT DID THEY DO? WHERE’S THAT INFORMATION? HOW IS THAT DISSEMINATED? AND LOOK, THINGS HAPPEN. THERE ARE BREAKDOWNS, BUT RING THE ALARM. THERE IS NO REASON TO WAIT FOR A PERFECT PRESS STATEMENT OR A PERFECT PRESS RELEASE. RING THE ALARM SO THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA CAN DO THEIR PART IN HELPING US GET BACK IN THERE. WE WANT YOU TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. DON’T GO ANYWHERE. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR IT BECAUSE HE DOESN’T HAVE AN IFB, BUT ON THE PHONE RIGHT NOW IS FORMER SHERIFF MARLIN GUSMAN. HE LOST A RACE TO SUSAN HUDSON. SHERIFF, LET’S JUST CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE. YOU SAW THE PRESS CONFERENCE. THE SHERIFF SAID THE LOCKS DID NOT WORK WHEN SHE TOOK OVER THIS JAIL. IS THAT ACCURA
New Orleans judges asking for security amid search for escaped inmates
Updated: 5:04 PM CDT May 16, 2025
New Orleans Criminal Court judges have asked for security amid a frantic search for nine escaped inmates. Judges confirm to WDSU that many judges have asked the sheriff’s office what security will be provided to them in light of the escape. Many of the escaped inmates have current cases before the elected judges or have currently been sentenced by the elected judges to jail time. Several of the escaped inmates have violent histories. Criminal Court operates seven days a week in New Orleans, and the judges are asking for protection in light of the matter. There are a total of 12 district judges and one magistrate judge. There are also five bond commissioners who act as judges and preside over initial appearances for people arrested and charged with crimes. A judge confirmed to WDSU that the sheriff denied the judge’s request for protection but the Orleans Parish Constables Office will provide all judges with security. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams confirmed that two assistant district attorneys in his office had police protection leaving work and are leaving the city as a precaution to protect their families. The ADAs directly handled some of the cases involving the escaped inmate.
New Orleans Criminal Court judges have asked for security amid a frantic search for nine escaped inmates.
Judges confirm to WDSU that many judges have asked the sheriff’s office what security will be provided to them in light of the escape.
Many of the escaped inmates have current cases before the elected judges or have currently been sentenced by the elected judges to jail time.
Several of the escaped inmates have violent histories.
Criminal Court operates seven days a week in New Orleans, and the judges are asking for protection in light of the matter.
There are a total of 12 district judges and one magistrate judge. There are also five bond commissioners who act as judges and preside over initial appearances for people arrested and charged with crimes.
A judge confirmed to WDSU that the sheriff denied the judge’s request for protection but the Orleans Parish Constables Office will provide all judges with security.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams confirmed that two assistant district attorneys in his office had police protection leaving work and are leaving the city as a precaution to protect their families.
The ADAs directly handled some of the cases involving the escaped inmate.
